Still too few Canadian visas for Haitians?
July 14 2010 by Liam Clifford
It has been six months since the earthquake in Haiti, but the number of Haitians now living in Canada is still below the targets set by Canadian immigration before the event.
Following the devastating earthquake, Canadian visa applications made by Haitians, who wanted to move to Canada to join relatives, were
expedited. However, this has still failed to result in enough visas being issued
to the island nation’s people, claim critics.
Canadian immigration
authorities have approved some 1,031 visas for Haitians this year. The Canadian
government claims this is double the number issued last year. However, the
target for Canadian immigration from Haiti in 2010 is for 2,235 newcomers - a
number that is unlikely to be met in light of the interim figures.
Now,
critics are urging the Canada immigration department to increase its targets
to make sure more Haitians, many of whom are still in need of shelter, water and
sanitation, can obtain Canadian visas.
Stephan Reichhold, the director of
TCRI, a group representing dozens of immigrant and refugee agencies in Quebec,
said, “We’re talking about an emergency and the distress of people and there are
thousands who continue to wait. We don’t know why they’re not able to give out
more visas.”
See the latest Immigration News
