Thank you.
Evidence of meeting #20 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was support.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #20 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was support.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:40 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Turning to education for a minute, we have a big problem in British Columbia as well. In Vancouver we have a $24-million funding shortfall, and that is without the influx of Syrian refugees.
To the video conference folks, is it your understanding that the provincial government's intention is to pursue this funding from the federal government, even though the federal government and the minister have said they do not intend to provide funding for provincial services?
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First of all, Ms. Allhalaq, I want to emphasize how terribly sorry I am to hear that you've had some problems. Obviously there have been some oversights. For example, you cited the fact that you had received an emergency bill and a demand for payment. You also mentioned that on one occasion you had made it to the library, where you had an appointment, but no one from the settlement agency was able to meet you there.
Out of curiosity, do you only deal with one settlement agency?
12:45 p.m.
As an Individual
No, it's more than one agency. We have the ISS, which is in charge of us. I tried to call them. They said that the employee in charge would call me back. I waited a whole day and nobody called me. I contacted Options. I left a message. I said that I had an urgent matter, that I had a bill for the ambulance and I didn't know how to handle it. I called again the second day. I tried to call DIVERSEcity, but I did not have the number.
When I narrated this at school, they told me there was somebody there who could help me and perhaps that would work. I was told that if somebody sent a fax along with the health papers, then I would get exempted. He took the document, photocopied it, and gave it back to me. He told me it should be fine. Then he took it upon himself to fax the document.
So I had tried. I had gone to more than one agency. When one agency does not answer me, I will try a second one. That's what I did, but I got the same outcome. They say to us, “We have too much pressure. We have too many numbers. You have to be patient. You have to wait.” I try to tell them that some matters are urgent. Some matters are more of a priority. If I need to go to a doctor for a headache, perhaps I can wait. But if somebody has an urgent need to undergo a medical test, and there's a need for an interpreter, they'll say that they don't have an interpreter, that they have to work with their own priorities. That's the situation.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
We were told by previous witnesses that you are only permitted to register with one settlement agency. No agency ever said that you could deal with them exclusively? You were allowed and permitted to call various settlement agencies? Is that correct?
12:45 p.m.
As an Individual
Any settlement agency would be available to receive me. It's not my understanding that I have to restrict myself to one settlement agency. I have not been told that specifically, no.
12:45 p.m.
Liberal
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
That's good to hear. Thank you for that.
To the Peel District School Board, I first of all want to reiterate what my colleague was saying. Thank you for the tremendous work you're doing. It is good to hear that other agencies and various school boards are calling you, because you obviously are very experienced.
One of the disconcerting things we heard several weeks ago was around the long lineups and waiting periods for the provision of English as a second language classes for both adults and children. Could you apprise us of whether that is a challenge in Peel district as well?
12:45 p.m.
Instructional Coordinator, English Language Learners, Peel District School Board
I can speak to the ESL programs in K to 12. We actually offer ESL support in every school in Peel, so there really isn't an issue around lineups.
I have been in touch with our adult ESL site as well, and they did say that they are working very hard to support families. Where they need help in the adult ESL area is really around additional support services to cater to the adult Syrian learners, services such as counselling from trained professionals. They're doing their best with the ESL programs. We definitely know that ESL has always been underfunded, so we're trying to work creatively. Because the students who are in elementary schools from grade 3 and up have gaps in education, they need intensive time with the teachers, much more time than other English-language learners.
12:45 p.m.
Coordinator, We Welcome the World Centres, Peel District School Board
I'd like to just add that in terms of the adult ESL classes in our community, many of the classes are full, but I think the lack of child-minding services for such large families is creating the issue in the community.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
Thank you for that.
I will be sharing the remainder of my time with Ms. Salma Zahid.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Thank you.
My question is for Mr. Sawaf.
I know language is an important tool for successfully integrating into Canadian society, especially for the job market. I know Syrian newcomers are eager to begin working right away, to begin supporting their families, and there are lots of transitional jobs that they do. For example, in my riding, the Adonis supermarket has hired over 40 refugees. Those who are fluent in English are working as cashiers, but those who don't speak English are working making salads and at the bakery. They are eager to work.
Are there any employers in your community who are eager to hire the Syrian refugees? What types of jobs are being offered to them?
12:50 p.m.
As an Individual
They're mainly in construction, which is what I specialize in. I believe there are other areas they can work in, as you mentioned, such as supermarkets or factories, etc. There are a lot of opportunities for them to get employment, yes. There are a lot of employers.... There's a shortage, right? These will actually be able to....
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
When the people are working, do they get some time to learn English as well, along with working?
12:50 p.m.
As an Individual
Oh yes, we try to register them for the night classes. They work in the morning and do night classes, and that works perfectly.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
June 14th, 2016 / 12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Thank you very much.
First, welcome.
Mr. Sawaf, your comments at the start were quite contradictory to what we heard last week in terms of how well the program is working, how well the resources are streaming out, and how well all the accommodation...that in fact, 99% have now moved out and have their own living accommodations.
The reality on the ground is a little disturbing, quite honestly, compared to what we've heard politically.
Ms. Allhalaq, you say there are 50 people in your complex. How many people is a complex designed for?
12:50 p.m.
As an Individual
These are big housing complexes made of apartment buildings, so big apartment buildings that have so many apartments, in the region.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
If I could go to the Peel District School Board—I'm filling in today for David Tilson, who's in your area—how many students were brought in under the refugee program?
12:50 p.m.
Coordinator, We Welcome the World Centres, Peel District School Board
Since January we have received 530 students.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
That's not unlike the Calgary board. That's equivalent to one school.
Were you consulted on it ahead of time?
