CIMM – 9.9 – Sikh and Hazara Applications in Inventory – February 8, 2023

IRCC’s response to a request for information made by the 

Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on March 3, 2022

Question

Mr. Jasraj Singh Hallan: Can we also get the officials, Madam Chair, to table.... There were applications that were pending and just stuck from Afghanistan, not just for interpreters but for the Sikh, Hindu and Hazara communities prior to the fall of Kabul. I asked the minister previously as well. Those people do not see any hope of coming to Canada anymore, because they don't see any priority given to Afghans.

Ms. Catrina Tapley: Of course.

Response

The Government of Canada takes the protection and promotion of human rights seriously and is deeply concerned with the discrimination and violence that has affected Sikhs, Hindus and other religious and ethnic communities in Afghanistan. 

Resettling refugees is a proud part of Canada’s humanitarian tradition. It demonstrates to the world that Canada has a shared responsibility to help those who are displaced, persecuted and most in need of protection. As with previous large-scale resettlement efforts, we welcome the support of the many Canadians who want to lend a hand. The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program is one of the oldest and best known resettlement programs in the world. While Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is unable to comment on specific cases for privacy and security reasons, the department is aware of, and continues to prioritize processing of Afghan applications, including those submitted by Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, as efficiently as possible.  

We are working with our partners, both internationally and within the Government of Canada, to find comprehensive solutions, as we know many persecuted minorities remain within Afghanistan. Through the PSR program, we’re expanding our partnership with the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation, a Sponsorship Agreement Holder, to resettle hundreds of persecuted Afghan Sikhs and Hindus. 

There are operational challenges due to the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan, which compromise our ability to ensure the safety and security of our mission, however support for religious freedoms both at home and abroad remains a priority for the Government of Canada. Canada will continue to facilitate refugee resettlement and honour our international humanitarian commitments. 

As of March 1, 2022, Canada welcomed 8,580 vulnerable Afghans. 

All key statistics, updated regularly, may be found on IRCC’s website at: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/afghanistan/key-figures.html.