Evidence of meeting #83 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 yazidis.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Absolutely.
Would you also recommend including an additional tranche within the government-sponsored refugee strain for the Yazidi community this year?
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Would you recommend that we prioritize the resettlement of Yazidis coming to Canada in communities where there are already pre-existing Yazidi communities?
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Excellent.
Would you recommend that we prioritize in the PSR stream, as well as in the GAR stream, the family reunification of Yazidis to help some of these women through their trauma?
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Would you recommend that the government examine perhaps a unique or innovative resettlement services program dedicated specifically to the Yazidi community to better support the activities your groups are currently undertaking in support of interpretation services, transportation, and trauma support, and to link them with existing government services to expedite that service delivery?
9:25 a.m.
Director, Yazidi Association of Manitoba
I would recommend that. I think it would provide much better services to everybody.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Just for the record, I'll go down the row on that.
Ms. Naso and Mr. Weiss.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
To acknowledge my colleague Ms. Zahid's comment about the identification or perhaps perceived reluctance to identify as Yazidi, would you recommend the continuation or perhaps the establishment of a special program for Canada outside of the traditional UNHCR process as we've seen this year, a continuation of it that would allow Yazidis to enter into Canada's resettlement services program without primarily relying on the UNHCR process?
9:25 a.m.
Yezidi Human Rights Activist, Yazda
Yes, I think that's definitely much needed for the Yazidis.
9:25 a.m.
Yezidi Human Rights Activist, Yazda
One of the big reasons I'm here is because I've seen that outcome. I mean, we haven't reached the number that we have promised the Yazidis. That is a very big thing. I believe that Yazidis are lost in the UN at times. We need to create a program that is dedicated directly for Yazidis.
We have seen this. We have brought so many refugees. We can bring more Yazidis into these refugee numbers. I don't think there is a problem with that, and there are a lot of people waiting and waiting for Canada to call their names. This is very urgent for Canada to do and to continue to do. I want this number to double. I mean, 1,200 Yazidis will be brought to Canada, yet thousands of girls, boys, and men are being killed.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I have a very short time, so I'm just going to ask you to clarify. Do you think that if Canada relies solely on the existing UNHCR process it will hamper our ability to reunite families in the Yazidi community with people who are here right now?
9:25 a.m.
Director, Yazidi Association of Manitoba
To have the UNHCR approve applications makes Canada's job much easier, from what I understand, than in the past, as a former refugee myself more than 10 years in Syria.
I think to have that number to expedite the cases.... If they can make a special case for the Yazidi, which is much recommended, that would be much better.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
We just had the high commissioner's representative testify that the UNHCR doesn't recommend refugees to Canada based on ethnicity. Would you be asking them to do that in this instance and prioritize Yazidi applications?