Hello and thank you to those that have shown their support for this petition.

As you must know, the genocide in Gaza is ongoing and rapidly worsening; the situation is urgent. Even if you have already, please take a few moments to copy and paste the following template and send it to the included addresses. Don't forget to include your name and location!

ADDITIONALLY: if you have not already, take a minute to read, sign and support THIS PETITION to help evacuate some individuals that have been separated from their families due to the Canadian evacuation program's failure. 

Copy and paste: 

To: mark.carney@parl.gc.ca ircc.minister-ministre.ircc@cic.gc.ca  anita.anand@international.gc.ca  harpreet.kochhar@cic.gc.ca david.morrison@international.gc.ca

Subject: The urgent reformation and reopening of the Special Measures program to help citizens of Gaza evacuate to Canada

Dear Prime Minister Carney and Ministers Diab and Anand,

As you and many other Canadians know, the Israel-Palestine war is still ongoing, greatly affecting and jeopardizing the lives of innocent civilians located in Gaza. I and many other Canadians feel extreme empathy towards the struggle of these civilians; the severe famine and lack of medical care lies in sharp contrast with the safety and support provided in Canada. 

Canada as a nation has a deep and successful history of forming well-organized and effective programs to assist civilians affected by war and conflict to evacuate to Canada. Such action has saved lives–especially in the cases of Ukraine (the CUAET program) and Afghanistan. 

I, along with many Canadian citizens, were extremely disappointed with the handling of the previous Special Measures visa program to evacuate Gazans with Canadian relatives. 

The program was severely neglected and unequal, with a complex and time consuming application process, a limit of 1,000 visas given, unusual and expensive security requirements, and an estimated 3500 applications still waiting for processing. The convoluted approval process has resulted in the separation of multiple families, leaving many family members of those approved in the active and dangerous war zone.

The worst part about the program was that the difficulty, limitations, and requirements were entirely different from the excellent show of empathy of the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. The program was amazingly efficient and forgiving with no set limit to the number of applicants or visas, a 14-day processing rate, waived fees and requirements, and around 80% of applicants accepted. Over 250,000 Ukrainian refugees are safely in Canada due to the remarkable reach and success of this program and the Canadian government. 

We, as Canadians with safety and stability and you, as politicians with great resources and power, have a responsibility to extend our help to the innocents whose lives, family and wellbeing are at severe risk amidst the crossfire of war and danger of famine in Palestine. I am calling upon you, your morality, and the government of Canada to:

• Complete and expedite the processing and evacuation of all applications still awaiting processing from the original program as efficiently as possible.
  • Exert Canada’s diplomatic pressure on Egyptian and Israeli governmental powers to ensure the safe passage of all refugees

Reopen the Canada Special Measures Emergency Visa program for Gaza and immediately reform the program in the following ways:

• No set limit to the number of applications taken or visas given
• Remove the financial responsibility placed on the anchor/Canadian connection
  • Immediately provide governmental settlement services for refugees arriving in Canada; replicate the government payment given to Ukrainian refugees evacuated under CUAET, initiate support in employment, housing, donation opportunities, etc.
• Expand the reach of the program to the civilians in Gaza with no Canadian relatives, or create a new program to aid in their evacuation (also seen in CUAET).
• Reform and reorganize the handling of applications to provide clear communication, quicker response time, and replicate the 14-day screening turnaround of CUAET and other evacuation programs.
  • Put more safeguards in place to prevent the separation of families due to technicalities or miscommunication. Ensure that a firm emphasis is placed on the preservation of family units.
• Firmly remove or postpone the need for biometric and other inaccessible information until the refugees have been evacuated.
  • Waive other requirements that may be difficult to obtain (eg. passports; emergency documents or replacements must be made available).
  • Ensure that the difficulty to obtain medical examination/documents is highlighted and accommodated for.
  • Alleviate/waive the processing fees and additional costs for applicants as seen in the CUAET program.
• Guarantee that disabilities, chronic illnesses, or injuries will not impede applicant’s eligibility to evacuation. Implement support for disabled applicants.
• Set clear guidelines and requirements on the webpage and make sure they are upheld.
• Remove the excessive and unusual added security requirements of the program–especially the requirement to disclose and explain injuries and provide social media information.
• Ensure that bureaucratic pressure and communication is being exerted upon the Israeli and Egyptian governmental organizations to facilitate effective and quick evacuation of accepted applicants.

If these changes are to be enacted the program is reopened, I urge you to increase support for evacuated Gazans in the following ways:

• Ensure a safe, compassionate, and welcoming reception for refugees arriving under the program.
  • Provide educational resources for immigration authorities and Canadian citizens and properly introduce the program as a means of support for people in an emergency situation who have undergone extreme trauma and harm.
• Extend the IFHP coverage for refugees entering Canada under the program–especially for long term injuries and mental health resources due to the extreme violence that has affected the civilians of Gaza.
• Implement accessible pathways for permanent residency in Canada for refugees arriving under the program.

I once again reiterate, there is an emergency situation in Gaza in which civilian lives are at severe risk. Famine, illness, and injury follow these innocent people like a dark cloud and with our power, resources, and money, we have a duty to save these people and show the world how Canadian morals and culture transcend borders of nationality and race.

Thank you,

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