Evidence of meeting #29 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 families.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Language, Settlement and Social Services, University Settlement
—and they came to us just for resumés. Their English levels are good. They have been very successful after three months, so I would say that in six months they have been able to find employment.
September 27th, 2016 / 4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to all the witnesses for their hard work. Please keep it up.
My first question is to the Hajmusa brothers. Why does it take so long to get benefits? You said that your sisters are not getting their benefits yet. I understand that you have been here for nine months and you still have not received any benefits for your sisters.
As an Individual
That's correct. As of now, my sisters have not received the benefit. It's been about eight months, and the delay perhaps has to do with the numbers. Perhaps the government has not managed well how to distribute refugees among the different cities. When we arrived at the welcome centre in Kitchener, there were seven families already there. We were the eighth family. Perhaps that caused undue pressure on the system, because there were too many refugees, so they went chronologically. Also, the real estate companies refused to provide a lease. This means looking for another real estate company, another residence.
Conservative
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
Is this a problem throughout the system in your neighbourhood? How many other families that you are aware of are having the same problem?
As an Individual
Well, there are two or three families that I am aware of that have delays in receiving benefits, but I am not aware of the proper numbers with other families, so I can't give a precise answer.
Conservative
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
Okay, thank you.
My next question is for Mrs. Azad. You mentioned private sponsorship versus government sponsorship, smaller families versus bigger families, and more education versus less education. Are you dealing with both sides, the private sponsorship as well as the government sponsorship program?
Director, Language, Settlement and Social Services, University Settlement
Yes.
Conservative
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
How is the situation with the kids when they go to school? How are they doing in school? In some cases, they haven't attended school for a long time and haven't seen teachers for a long time. Do they understand the system? Are they doing their homework? Are they getting along with the other kids? Are you seeing any issues?
Director, Language, Settlement and Social Services, University Settlement
I can't comment on any major issue, no. It's regular, normal issues that we see among all other immigrants. The kids are okay, even though, yes, some of them didn't have education back home and are starting from scratch here in Canada, but it is not a major issue. They are progressing as expected. It's not very fast. However, they are moving well. The good thing is that negotiations between the agencies and the school have been happening in a good way, so the school knows about their background and is providing enough support, especially when it comes to homework, as well as support after school. The kids are receiving more support, compared to the other students in the school.
Conservative
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
How about the government-sponsored refugees? How is the employment situation? Is it easy to find jobs, or do they have difficulty finding jobs because of the language situation and no Canadian experience, etc.? Are they finding jobs?
Director, Language, Settlement and Social Services, University Settlement
They are finding labour jobs. This is our experience. Again, because they have a big family and they really want to integrate, their goal is finding employment. That's why they are willing to start doing labour jobs, and they have done it. However, many of them are looking to start their own business in the trades.
Liberal
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for their presentations today.
I am going to start with a couple of questions for the two brothers who are our witnesses today, Mr. Mousa and Mr. Hajmusa.
After the 13 months, do you think you'll be staying in Waterloo?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
Can we start from the beginning again? We lost our translation services.
I will ask the witness to pause. We are having some technical difficulties.
As an Individual
I intend to stay here after the 13 months because my field of study and field of work is in the city where I currently live, so I am not forced to change cities. I don't need to change cities in terms of what I want to study. It's available in the city where I live.
As an Individual
After I finish my English, after I complete the 6th and 7th levels, I'll go to the college to study electrical engineering. Again, in the city where I am, there is the University of Waterloo. My programs are available, and they are offered by this university, so I intend to stay where I am. I feel that my goals will be met here. I don't know where work opportunities will take me once I graduate.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
That's wonderful.
I know that you've been working with a settlement agency, so you have English classes, and you have jobs in the afternoon. What other ongoing interactions do you have with the settlement agencies on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis?
As an Individual
Yes, there is a working centre, and every week they have different programs, let's say for women or for men. For example, 20 days ago there was a program where people could see the different factories. We went to a car factory. There are programs for women where they see handicrafts. There are also programs for children. Almost every week, there is a different program targeting a different group. Now there is also a program for students every Sunday, where they can go and visit the University of Waterloo to see the settings and the requirements by universities. This will help people find out exactly what their goals are.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Thank you so much.
Also, as I meant to say at the beginning, a very warm welcome to you both and to your families here to Canada.
My next question is for Mrs. Azad.
Mrs. Azad, you mentioned how the Syrian refugees are finding jobs—many in labour, some in their background—and this is great. Are women also finding jobs, and what is the child care option available for those women who may be working?
Director, Language, Settlement and Social Services, University Settlement
In answer to this question, I should say that my experience shows only the private-sponsor families. I have seen young women who are looking for jobs and have been able to find jobs. However, for government-assisted refugees who have big families, I haven't seen any employment of the women. Maybe they prefer to stay with the kids and take care of them. That's why I cannot comment on whether any child care issue exists. However, I know that child care expenses are a huge problem for women, for the ones who are seeking employment, because they need to find a decent job to be able to pay for child care. We have been able to introduce a subsidy benefit for them. However, not many of them are taking advantage of this opportunity.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
We will now suspend for two to three minutes and return in camera to deal with committee business.
Yes.