Citizenship and Immigration committee  For me, as long as Canada accepts people, the most important thing is for the Government of Canada to provide, in a broader way, access to English as a second language, because this is essential to every newcomer who doesn't speak English. When they are able to speak English, lif

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes, it has been around a year.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I am getting a welfare benefit of $1,200. If I pay the rent and then I pay the transportation costs, we as a family are left with only with $200.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I pay $103 a month. This is the least I can pay. I am supposed to pay a minimum, but this is what I can afford.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Generally, we support the family with the Canada child tax benefit. Sometimes we go to the food bank.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes, that's true. I'm supposed to pay $720.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I have a six-year time period. If I don't complete payment of the total amount, then there will be interest.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No, she didn't get a chance to go. Her situation is worse than mine. I try my best to learn English on the streets through my friends or through some acquaintances. She doesn't have that chance, because she mainly stays at home with the kids. It's a very difficult situation.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No, I am not working. How can I work if I don't know the English to communicate?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  [Witness speaks in Arabic]

Citizenship and Immigration committee  In my case, I went to a different centre, and again they told me that it was full, that I had to wait. When I told them that I am a newcomer and that I wanted to register for ESL classes, they told me: “That's good, but again, we don't have any vacancy now. We don't have any seat

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Request number one is that one of the main problems we are facing, as Syrian refugees in Vancouver, is learning ESL, or English as a second language. We have been here, as a family, for almost a year, but up to now, none of us has attended English class. Every time I go, they say