Canadian Democratic Party Calls for Expedited Family Reunification for Sudanese Families
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Canadian MPs have criticized the Canadian governments stance on the war in Sudan, accusing Justin Trudeaus government of failing to fulfill its commitments declared regarding Sudan, especially in implementing a family reunification program, urging Ottawa to intensify diplomatic pressures and humanitarian response.
Three MPs from the New Democratic Party (NDP), Blake DeJarlais, Jenny Kwan, and NDPs Foreign Affairs critic Heather McPherson, along with Sudanese community member Neama Mahgoub, called for expediting the processing of family reunification for families stranded in Sudan.
A statement issued by the three MPs following a press conference on Tuesday revealed that the Canadian Immigration Ministry has not approved the entry of anyone from Sudan since the Liberal government launched the family reunification program for relatives in Sudan in February.
Canadian news sources reported that Ottawa received 680 applications by March 25, including nearly 1,500 individuals who meet the processing criteria, since the program began on February 27. However, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) did not specify the number of applications that have not yet passed "completeness checks."
MP DeJarlais stated, "Sudanese Canadians feel abandoned by the Liberals and are concerned for the safety of their relatives," while MP Jenny Kwan said, "Its shameful that not a single relative in Sudan has come to Canada through the governments immigration program."
NDP Foreign Affairs critic Heather McPherson added, "This government has not done enough to push for peace and family reunification here in Canada. We need to hold war criminals accountable, like imposing sanctions on warlords in the region. Canada must use its role on the world stage to call for an end to this bloodshed."
Canada expressed concern about the situation in Sudan last spring, evacuated its citizens from the country by air, and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly visited Kenya to support neighboring countries efforts to push for peace. However, since then, Canada has avoided imposing sanctions or exerting pressure on the warring parties in Sudan.
Instead, Canada has focused on humanitarian aid, allocating over 170 million last year to Sudan and neighboring countries hosting refugees.
The Foreign Ministry defended Canadas position on Sudan, stating that "Canadian officials continue to raise the crisis in discussions with regional partners and internationally at all levels." Government spokesperson Marlene Giffordmont added, "We are exploring with our partners all options to ensure accountability for those responsible for human rights violations."
Former Canadian ambassador to Sudan, Nicolas Coghlan, argued that Canada should follow the lead of its American and European counterparts in imposing sanctions on economic networks relied upon by the warring parties in Sudan, noting that Canada has not appointed a senior diplomat to stay in the region and use its humanitarian and diplomatic weight.
According to Canadian media reports, "Unless this neglect is corrected, we are not in a position to consider playing a secondary role in ending the fighting," pointing out that Canada has not issued a statement on the crisis since June 2023.
Canadian analysts are monitoring whether Canada will participate in a summit to be held in Paris next week aimed at attracting more foreign aid for Sudan and finding a way to end the conflict.
The Canadian government announced at the end of February a program allowing Canadian citizens of Sudanese origin or Sudanese residents with permanent residency in Canada, including those with other nationalities who had permanent residency in Sudan when the fighting began last April, to bring their relatives and settle permanently in Canada.
The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Canada stated that it had approved the "Family Permanent Residence Pathway for Individuals Affected by Conflict in Sudan" for Sudanese citizens and non-Sudanese individuals who resided in Sudan when the conflict began on April 15, 2023, enabling them to reunite permanently with their families in Canada.
The Ministry indicated that it would accept 3,250 applications from Canadian citizens or permanent residents for extended family reunification. Beneficiaries of the program include children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and siblings, but those wishing to benefit from the program must also be able to host and support the newcomers until they begin their new lives in Canada.
However, Canadian citizens of Sudanese origin considered the ministrys specified conditions for bringing their family members discouraging, in addition to other requirements demanded from the targeted stranded families such as documentary evidence and biometric screening in the absence of government institutions and embassy closures.
Canadian press reports quoted Sudanese-origin families saying that the program requires documents that are impossible to gather in a war zone and requires sponsors to have 18,100 in cash plus a minimum annual income of 51,128 to support a family of four.
Canada temporarily suspended operations at its embassy in Sudan in the early days of last years war, and Canadian diplomats will temporarily work from a secure location outside the country, according to Reuters.
