I want to thank the witnesses for being here today.
We have a bit of a dilemma, I think, in that the safe third country agreement defines a family member as including sisters and brothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, grandchildren, uncles and aunts, etc. It means that someone who crosses the border illegally can have as many extended family members as they want cross into Canada legally at a port of entry. On the other hand, the one-year window of opportunity provision, which allows resettled refugees to sponsor family members to Canada, defines family members only as a spouse and children.
We know that this has been difficult for Yazidis in Canada. Many of the women have, as indicated, lost their husbands or other male members of the family and wish they could sponsor other male relatives. Do you think it's fair that illegal border crossers are allowed to bring extended family members into the country when Yazidi refugees are not allowed to do so?
Could I have your comments, please, Majed?