Evidence of meeting #88 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 language.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
Okay.
This question is for the South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre.
What difficulties do Yazidi children face in the Canadian school system? Are there services required by the Yazidi community in London that your organization is struggling to provide?
9:20 a.m.
Director, Newcomer Settlement Services, South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre
For the children, just keep in mind that they have not had schooling for most of their lives, either due to the war or because in the past, also, other internal conflicts were happening in Iraq.
As we have seen on a daily basis, the first time the children arrive, they are not eager to go to school because they have no idea exactly what it means to be in a school. When they are in the classrooms, most of the time they can't sit. They move around. They suddenly just drift and leave the classroom.
SWIS, the settlement workers in schools program, which is funded by IRCC, has been very supportive of the initial arrival of the Yazidis in the school systems in London. Most of the schools in London are provided with this type of support service.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I'm afraid I need to cut you off there. I'm sure you'll get more chances.
One note I want to give to the committee regarding terminology, and it's partly out of respect for those who sit in our booth, is just a reminder that “translation” is the function of the written word; “interpretation” has to do with what people do verbally. These are interpreters. Translators do written work. Then there's a third professional designation, called “terminology”. You have three different functions in this industry, in this profession. I just want to make sure you're aware of that. It's not that we don't need all three when you're dealing with non-widely disseminated languages, but we've been talking in particular about interpretation because that's how we engage human to human. I mention that just out of respect for the people who diligently serve in our booth as interpreters.
Ms. Rempel.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Khoudeida, it's my understanding that the entire population of the community of Yazidis in Canada is about 1,000, or was 1,000 before this, and it's primarily centred in Toronto, London, and Winnipeg. Would that be correct?
9:20 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes. London is the largest community, and Winnipeg and Toronto.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
What we've heard from witnesses in this study and other studies as well is that part of the challenge of reintegrating the cohort of Yazidi refugees who are coming to the country is twofold: it's the extreme level of trauma that has been experienced, but also the community is very small in Canada. Would you say that would be an accurate characterization of the larger problem?
9:25 a.m.
As an Individual
Compared to Canada, it is small, but our community in London is around 500 people right now.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Sure.
We've heard some recommendations in terms of going forward, given the fact that the community is smaller compared to other populations that have been tasked with supporting refugees in the last few years and the trauma. The first recommendation would be that we need to have some type of novel or innovative and more nimble response network, specifically with the provision of transportation and interpretation services for the Yazidi refugees who are arriving. That is a gap in all the centres where Yazidis have been resettled. Would you deem that to be correct?
9:25 a.m.
As an Individual
To a certain point, yes, in terms of interpretation, we need to train more Yazidis who speak the direct language to help them, to support them.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Ms. Smith, given your experience in Calgary, would you also suggest that in the future, families coming to Canada be resettled into larger communities in London as opposed to Calgary? We've had a lot of questions about why families were sent to Calgary when there wasn't a lot of existing support there.
9:25 a.m.
As an Individual
The case I'm involved with is a bit different because there's an adult with a severe disability, which also hampers their ability to leave the home and to connect with other families, so that's an issue.
I feel a little uncomfortable actually saying where I think they should be settled, but I did present the question to Gule. I said, “Would you have preferred to have been around other families?” Her response was interesting. She seems to be lost in a netherworld. She said she would rather be in a community where there's a larger Yazidi population, yet her background is rural, so one of her favourite things to do is to look at pictures of my family's farm in northeastern Saskatchewan because she misses the rural community. She has the worst of both worlds here. She's in a large centre.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Okay. Thank you.
Something else that I've heard from people who have come into my office from London, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Calgary is that there really isn't any cohesive network nationally right now to coordinate best practice. It sounds like London is doing very well because there's an existing population there. Winnipeg is kind of struggling but getting through. Toronto would be a similar scenario.
Would you suggest that one of the recommendations the committee could make to the government is to provide funding for a conference to bring service providers together to discuss best practice?
Mr. Khoudeida.
9:25 a.m.
As an Individual
It would be a good idea. If Toronto is struggling, then maybe we should meet with them and educate them on how to provide better services to newcomers. If they don't have enough interpreters, we suggest they spread the word to other communities. We can interpret over the phone if needed.
9:25 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes, absolutely.
I'm very encouraged to hear how well some of the other cities are doing, because I would like to be clear that I am in no way saying that I don't think the Yazidi population should be here or that we shouldn't bring more of these vulnerable women to our country. Yes, I think that it's sad that some communities seem to be doing really well and others aren't. It's the Yazidi people who are suffering for it.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
With regard to continued efforts to bring Yazidis to Canada, we've heard two very specific recommendations.
One is that the cap on private sponsorship for people from northern Iraq be lifted, with the specific aim of allowing more Yazidi families to come into the country.
The second is that the government should be encouraging the United Nations to prioritize genocide survivors, specifically Yazidis, in terms of referral to Canada as part of the GAR program.
Mr. Khoudeida, would you agree with that?
9:30 a.m.
As an Individual
I would absolutely agree with that.
They need to be made a priority. Their needs are great, but their contributions are amazing too. They're going to make our country richer and better.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I just want to comment briefly, because the topic of religion was broached. In order to stop the genocide from being perpetuated, it's very important that in Canada we are also allowing the Yazidis who are coming here to preserve their faith, so the genocide isn't completed upon arrival in Canada.
Is that something, Ms. Smith and Mr. Khoudeida, that you would agree with?
9:30 a.m.
As an Individual
I would definitely agree with that. I'm going to broach a controversial subject here, because I feel it's very important.
Dunia, the 13-year-old daughter, told me that she feels she hasn't made a single friend in school, even though she is a friendly, outgoing girl. She said that she lives in a northeast community where there's a large Muslim population. Speaking Arabic is a trigger for Dunia, because her captors spoke Arabic. She tends to stay away from the Arabic children.
Because of her physical appearance, though, many non-Muslim children assume she is Muslim. They kind of push her towards being with the Muslim children. She feels very rejected by both Muslim and non-Muslim schoolchildren.