Question Period Note: GOVERNMENT OF CANADA’S ROLE IN ISRAEL, GAZA AND WEST BANK SITUATION

The Government of Canada is providing support to Canadians, Canadian permanent residents and their eligible family members in Israel, Gaza and the West bank through assisted departures and facilitative measures due to the conflict in the region. The Government is also providing supports to foreign nationals in Gaza who are related to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident that will be supporting them in Canada as part of the temporary protection pathway the Government has created.

• Canada remains deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza and empathizes with those affected.
• We understand that many Canadians are concerned about the safety of their loved ones in Gaza.
• Given the many Canadians and permanent residents seeking to help their extended family in Gaza, IRCC has increased the number of temporary resident visa applications that will be accepted into processing under our public policy from 1,000 to 5,000.
• The Rafah Border has been closed since May 7. At this time, there are no crossings into Egypt, however Canada is ready to receive applicants in Cairo once the border reopens.
• Canada continues to advocate with countries in the region to support moving people from Gaza to Egypt.
• IRCC is closely monitoring the situation as it evolves and will adapt our responses accordingly.
If pressed on cap:

• Many people are worried about their loved ones and have expressed significant interest in the temporary special measures we introduced for their extended family in Gaza.
• That is why, as part of our humanitarian response, we have increased the number of temporary resident visa applications that will be accepted into processing as part of these measures from 1,000 to 5,000.
• With this cap increase, we will be ready to help more people as the situation evolves. Our focus remains on keeping families together and bringing them to safety as quickly as possible.

If pressed on how many individuals have been issued visas under this public policy?

• IRCC has received a large volume of web form submissions. We are currently reviewing them for completeness. As of June 3, 2024, we have 3,008 applications accepted into processing, meaning that applicants have used their unique reference code to submit a complete application through the IRCC Portal.
• People who submitted a TRV application under these measures and have since left Gaza will also continue to have their application processed pending available space under the intake cap.
• As of June 3, 2024, 283 people who exited Gaza on their own and had TRV applications in process were able to submit biometrics and complete their application, and have been approved to come to Canada. As of June 3, 2024, 70 people have arrived in Canada under the temporary public policy.
• In addition to applications approved through the temporary measures, as of May 10, 2024, 448 temporary resident visas have been approved for Palestinians outside of Gaza since October 8, 2023, through IRCC's existing programs and are now able to travel to Canada.

If pressed on how some people are able to cross at Rafah:

• There is an official process for exit from Gaza put in place by the Governments of Egypt and Israel. At this time, the Rafah Border is closed and there are no crossings. The Government of Canada respects that process and continues to work with our partners to secure exit for our clients.

• Global Affairs Canada (GAC) was leading a consular operation to assist Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, and their immediate family members who are seeking to leave Gaza and the West Bank.

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) supported Global Affairs Canada (GAC) with the assisted departures of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family members from Tel Aviv. Canada facilitated 19 departure flights out of Israel between October 12 and October 23, 2023.

• Since October 2023, IRCC has supported Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in the assisted departure of over 2,500 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and eligible family members out of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza (via Rafah).

Public Policies and Facilitative Measures:
• On December 21, 2023 IRCC announced temporary immigration measures to support family members of Canadians and permanent residents in Canada.

• In addition, with a goal to provide a temporary pathway to safety and to keep families together, on January 9, 2024, IRCC launched a special Temporary Resident pathway for extended family members of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents currently residing in Gaza. The public policy will expire after 5,000 TRV applications are accepted for processing, or after one year.

• As of May 20, 2024, IRCC has accepted 2,903 applications into processing for the public policy to facilitate temporary resident visas for certain extended family affected by the crisis in Gaza, meaning that applicants have used their unique reference code to submit a complete application through the IRCC Portal.

These TRV applications are being reviewed to determine eligibility and preliminary admissibility. Once in Canada, these individuals will be able to:
o stay in Canada for up to 3 years
o access IFHP for 3 months
o access settlement services for up to 3 years
o apply inland for study permits and open work permits free of charge

• To continue to be as facilitative as possible, IRCC established fee waivers for those who need to extend their temporary resident status in Canada for up to 3 years.

• IRCC is also providing a way for existing TRV and Super visa holders to identify themselves and request help in obtaining approval to exit from Gaza. If they have a valid TRV and agree to the Government of Canada sharing their information with the governments of Israel and Egypt, we can provide their name to local authorities for approval to exit Gaza.

• People who exited Gaza and have a TRV application in process and intend to come to Canada can also self-identify if they need help to complete the final processing steps of their application.

Movement out of Gaza:
• To support the movement of Palestinians out of Gaza and to protect the health and safety of Canadians, a multi-stage security screening approach has been developed. This is part of a standard practice in crisis response situations where IRCC does not have a presence on the ground to initiate initial screening and collection of biometrics, as we did with Afghanistan.

• By using the enhanced biographic information applicants provide, we are able to conduct preliminary security screening while people are still in Gaza. As a result, we will be able to finalize most applications faster once people exit Gaza.

Departures out of Gaza:
• People who submitted a web form while still in Gaza, and have since left, would still be eligible for the public policy. They may receive a unique code to apply for a TRV depending on spaces left under these special measures. Similarly, people who submitted a TRV application under these measures and have since left Gaza will also continue to have their application processed pending available space under the intake cap.
• The Rafah border crossing has been closed since May 7. Canada continues to put forward names of people who passed preliminary eligibility and admissibility reviews to local authorities for approval, but does not ultimately decide who can exit Gaza. At this time there are no crossings into Egypt, however Canada is ready to receive applicants in Cairo once the border reopens.

• Once applicants have left Gaza and arrive in Cairo, the Government of Canada will collect a person’s biometric information (fingerprints and photo) to complete the final step in the assessment process and work to provide a final decision on the temporary resident visa application as quickly as possible. While the applicant is in Cairo, the Government of Canada will provide food and accommodation to them for 2 days.

Resettlement from Gaza / Palestinian Territories:
• Canada has a long and proud humanitarian tradition of protecting the world’s most vulnerable people. In general, we rely on the United Nations Refugees Agency (UNHCR), other referral organizations and private sponsorship groups for referrals of refugees who need to be resettled. Individuals presenting vulnerabilities and compelling protection needs in the country of asylum are prioritized. Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis. Under our laws, we screen all resettlement cases, including in relation to security, criminality and health.

• Refugee resettlement is generally considered as a last-resort, when no other durable solution is available to individuals with protection needs who have left their country, cannot safely return home, and require permanent resettlement to a third country because they are unable to remain in the country where they currently reside.

• Resettling Palestinians out of the Middle East region comes with sensitivities with partners and other states in the region based on the real or perceived impact on Palestinian right to return.

Additional protection measures for habitual residents of the West Bank and Gaza who are already in Canada

• For those already in Canada, on December 22, 2023, IRCC implemented an exemption for people from Gaza and the West Bank who may have been previously barred from applying for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA). The intent of this is to provide an additional layer of protection.
• The new exemption allows people from Gaza and the West Bank who received a final negative decision on their refugee claim between December 23, 2022, and December 22, 2023, to apply for an additional risk assessment. Normally, they would not be eligible to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment within the 12-month period of receiving a final negative decision.
• Those who received a negative final decision before December 23, 2022 are already eligible for a pre removal risk assessment (PRRA), since the 12-month bar has expired for them. All individuals who receive their final negative decision after December 22, 2023 do not need this extra protection tool, since decision makers will be aware of the new situation in the West Bank and Gaza when adjudicating their claims.

• An exemption to the one-year bar can be implemented when there is a sudden and significant change in country conditions that may result in a well-founded fear of persecution or a danger of torture, risk to life, or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. A positive decision on PRRA may result in protected person status in Canada.

• Currently, an Administrative Deferral of Removal (ADR) is in place for habitual residents of Gaza.

Supports

Given that those who arrive will have an existing connection to Canada, it is expected that their in-Canada relatives will help with housing, finding employment and assisting with immediate needs on arrival.

Successful applicants who arrive in Canada will be supported by their Canadian citizen or permanent resident anchors. These family members signed a statutory declaration of their intent to provide a number of supports for their family members for one year. These supports include providing financial support for basic needs (for example, housing, food and clothing), orientation to life in Canada, assistance with identifying accommodations, as well as support enrolling in school and language training, and accessing support services to find employment.

Once in Canada, eligible people may apply for a fee-exempt study or open work permit under the measures previously announced.

Permanent residents and family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who came to Canada following the assisted departures will be eligible to apply online for time-limited medical coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) to support immediate medical needs upon arrival or to cover a standard waiting period for provincial coverage. Coverage under the IFHP is for 90 days from when the person arrived in Canada, and includes retroactive coverage.

If pressed on departures from Gaza:
• Israel has agreed to Canada’s request to facilitate the exit of extended family members in Gaza as part of their expanding humanitarian efforts
• However, movement out of Gaza remains extremely challenging. The Rafah Border has been closed since May 7. At this time, there are no crossings into Egypt, but Canada is ready to receive applicants in Cairo once the border reopens.
• IRCC continues to work closely with Global Affairs, including at our missions throughout the Middle East (e.g., Cairo, Tel Aviv, Amman), to support the assisted departure of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their eligible family members, as well as those eligible under the temporary measures, out of Gaza.

If pressed on eligibility for extended family in Gaza:

• To be eligible for the temporary resident pathway, applicants must be the spouse, common-law partner, child (regardless of age), grandchild, sibling, parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident anchor.
• They must also be in Gaza when they applied for the program (submitted a web form), hold a Palestinian passport, and have an anchor in Canada who will support them for one year once they arrive in Canada.

If pressed on Canada’s response compared to other countries such as Australia:

• Canada is the only country in the world with a dedicated pathway for extended family members of its citizens or permanent residents in Gaza. We understand Australia is accepting Gazans to apply for visitor visas, however these visas exist as part of Australia's existing visa system; they have not been specially created.

If pressed on eligibility for those crossing the border without a code:

• The Government of Canada recognizes the situation in Gaza and we are being as flexible as possible to help as many extended family members of Canadians affected by the conflict.
• Under the public policy, applicants must be in Gaza on the day their application (web form) is submitted to be eligible. People who submitted a web form while still in Gaza, and have since left, would still be eligible for the public policy. They may receive a unique code to apply for a TRV depending on spaces left under these special measures.
• Similarly, people who submitted a TRV application under these measures and have since left Gaza will also continue to have their application processed pending available space under the intake cap.
• People who already have existing TRV applications, who meet the eligibility requirements under the public policy, can ask for their applications to be processed under the special measures.
• Those already outside Gaza who need to finalize their TRV application may also contact us to advise they have left Gaza. In light of the situation and to help as many people as possible, Canada is taking into account the special circumstances of people, whether they have submitted a regular TRV application or one associated with the Temporary public policy to facilitate temporary resident visas for certain extended family affected by the crisis in Gaza when processing applications.
• IRCC will confirm their information and provide it to the Embassy of Canada in Cairo. People will be able to make an appointment with the Embassy to complete the final processing steps of their application.