On Parliament Hill

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration recently completed its study entitled, “Immigration Measures for the Protection of Vulnerable Groups.” There were several urgent issues that require immediate attention pertaining to the plight of extremely vulnerable groups, specifically Yazidi victims of genocide.

The Yazidis are an ancient ethno-religious group who face persecution because of their faith by the Islamic State. Their women and girls are often sold into sex slavery by ISIS.

In emotional testimony to the committee, Nadia Murad Basee Taha, a Yazidi woman who survived an Islamic State attack in Iraq in 2014, said the world has remained silent. “I would like … Canada to help with the immigration and with the asylum processes. Our people have been suffering for the past two years and they must be helped.”

The committee heard many concerns regarding the lengthy (5+ years) waits given to Yazidi victims of genocide by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for refugee selection appointments. Many victims of genocide are unable to stay in refugee camps due to financial concerns and concerns from victims regarding the incidence of further persecution in the camps. Also, the committee heard concerns about the ability of victims of genocide to travel to UN refugee camps for resettlement processing, and potential discrimination against Yazidis by UN representatives. The reality is that very few Yazidis have been recommended for resettlement to Canada by the United Nations.

Based on testimony at this committee, the Hon. Michelle Rempel, Official Opposition Critic for Citizenship, Immigration and Refugees, is urging the Liberal Government to consider immediate action on 9 steps that can be taken including:

• Treating the U.N. declaration of genocide as an immediate call to action for Canada in which a whole-of-government approach is required (humanitarian aid, military intervention, and resettlement); and
• Acting upon the June 2016 United Nations recommendation to accelerate the asylum claims of Yazidi victims of genocide.

Canada has opened its doors to thousands of refugees over the past year, yet only a tiny fraction of those have been Yazidi’s. Michelle Rempel said in June that Canada had processed only nine Yazidi cases by that point.

Just before Christmas I encouraged the Canadian Government to remember refugees from other areas of the world that in many cases have been waiting numerous years for their chance at a new start. The Canadian Government must continue to process claims from these areas as well.

Given that so few Yazidis have made it Canada and thousands still face unbearable futures at the hands of ISIS due to religious persecution, I encourage the Liberal Government to do its part to make the Yazidi people a priority.