Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to rise in the House today to present a petition spearheaded by the Ecuadorians in my downtown riding of Davenport. To date, it has received over 1,500 signatures.
The petitioners are calling for the Parliament of Canada to pass a motion allowing the opening of a special immigration program and to fast-track the processing of sponsorship applications for those residing in the Ecuadorian provinces of Manabi and Esmeraldas who were victims of the earthquake of April 2016.
More specifically, the petitioners are asking the Government of Canada to fast-track sponsorship applications for family and extended family members, including siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles; to allow for private sponsors under group-of-five and community-sponsored programs; and to increase the quota of working holiday visas for young persons.
This petition was presented by Ecutorianos Unidos-Canada and supported by the Latin American Collective, the Latin American Tenants Association of GTA , and the generous support of community volunteers.