SoVote

Mrs. Jenna Sudds (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Lib.)

Dec/7/21 3:41:24 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I have been listening to the concerns and questions from my colleagues throughout the day on both sides of the House about how Canada and the world responded to the upheaval of the fall of Kabul. The difficulties in operating in Afghanistan cannot be underestimated, so I want to respond to the motion today by sharing information about the government's Afghanistan exit strategy. Since the end of the air bridge evacuation in August, we have helped over 1,400 Canadians, permanent residents and their family members leave the country. As we heard the minister say earlier today, another 520 Afghan refugees are arriving here tomorrow. However, by no means have we ended our consular support in Afghanistan. Today, nearly four months since the fall of Kabul, a dedicated team of Global Affairs Canada officials continue to support Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Afghanistan who want to leave. Global Affairs Canada is responsible for providing this emergency assistance to Canadians abroad under, of course, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act. This responsibility includes the repatriation or assisted departure of Canadians in distress. In the event of a crisis, Global Affairs Canada activates these tools and strategies in support of Canada's network of diplomatic missions abroad. This allows them to rapidly mobilize, situate resources where they are most needed and directly support the people affected by an emergency. Global Affairs undertook significant planning and preparedness efforts in the months prior to the fall of Kabul. The department did this to ensure that Canada was ready for all possibilities. These efforts ramped up significantly in July 2021 as the security situation worsened. During this period, Global Affairs convened interdepartmental task force calls, or ITFs. These ITF calls ensure interdepartmental collaboration and common situational awareness among departments. At the same time as Global Affairs was holding these ITF calls on Afghanistan, similar meetings were taking place across the government of Canada, including at the deputy minister and PCO levels. To ensure maximum situational awareness, Global Affairs also ramped up international liaison activities with like-minded countries. This enabled Canada and its international partners to share information and to work together on consular matters and repatriation efforts. Communicating with Canadian citizens and permanent residents abroad is critically important during an emergency, and we know it can be a lifeline. At all times during the Afghanistan crisis, Canada was in contact with citizens and permanent residents. Global Affairs proactively developed vital updates and information and shared them widely. The department did so via the registration of Canadians abroad system and through social media and other communications channels. These actions enable Canadians to take difficult decisions regarding their safety and well-being. They were an essential tool for those who chose to leave Afghanistan. To manage the surge in consular requests, more than 200 Global Affairs employees joined the effort at headquarters and from missions abroad. They worked as emergency responders and emergency contact centre agents throughout August and September. More than a dozen standing rapid deployment team members were deployed to Qatar and Islamabad in support of response efforts. Officers from the Department of National Defence; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency were embedded within the Global Affairs emergency watch and response centre to ensure the most effective response possible. Robust case management teams were established and worked long hours to provide services in support of Canadians, permanent residents and their families. An Afghanistan crisis management team continues to operate today. Together, these dedicated public servants have done and continue to do their utmost to support the safe passage of Canadians, permanent residents and their family members. The special immigration measures programs continue to be an essential tool to help Afghan nationals who have significant and enduring Canadian connections to resettle here in Canada. Prior to the evacuation in August, Global Affairs and National Defence worked closely with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to advocate for the need for a program to safeguard vulnerable Afghan nationals who may be at risk due to their work supporting Canadian efforts in Afghanistan. Both before and after the establishment of special immigration measures for Afghanistan, Global Affairs has supported IRCC in its efforts to resettle Afghan nationals here in Canada. Global Affairs support includes acting as a referral agency for incoming Afghans, as well as coordinating and facilitating safe passage with National Defence and international partners. Today, a dedicated team of Global Affairs officers continues to support those who wish to leave Afghanistan. The current operations have a dual focus. The first is ensuring that those who wish to leave have the documents they need in order to travel, and the second is working with international partners to identify and take advantage of departure opportunities when they become available. I am proud of the work of our Global Affairs staff. Despite the closing of the air bridge and very challenging conditions on the ground, Global Affairs has helped to repatriate more than 1,400 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families, and the work continues. That means 1,400 women, men and children will not be subject to the repressive policies of the Taliban regime. I am fully aware that the work is not done; it is far from done. It is important, though, that we learn from the challenges we face together, and I hope all members will agree that we cannot do so by politicizing the men, women and children we brought home. It would be completely inappropriate, of course, to do so. I believe we can find a way to have these discussions respectfully, in the pursuit of truth. Is the forum being proposed by the opposition today the best place for that discussion? I am not sure it is, but I will certainly carefully consider the arguments being put forward today. One sure thing is that operations remain under way to help Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families who wish to leave Afghanistan. Our consular services are dedicated to helping Canadians in distress, whether they are in Afghanistan or anywhere in the world.

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Context: House Hansard - 12 - Dec/7/21

Mrs. Jenna Sudds

Dec/7/21 3:50:40 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, as I said earlier, we will not stop until the remaining Canadians and vulnerable Afghans who supported our work in Afghanistan and who wish to leave are able to depart. We are there with all in the Afghan Canadian community who worry about their relatives, and we will continue to work tirelessly towards that goal. We should also take a moment to thank neighbouring countries for their support in welcoming refugees. We continue to work very closely with our allies and countries in the region to help get as many people out as possible. This is a whole-of-government effort, and together we will not stop until we achieve that.

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Context: House Hansard - 12 - Dec/7/21

Mrs. Jenna Sudds

Dec/7/21 3:52:29 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, we are working tirelessly to stay in contact with and support those who remain in Afghanistan and who wish to come to Canada. IRCC continues to process applications for Afghan refugees day and night, and we have mobilized our entire global network to process visas and issue them on an urgent basis. To date, IRCC has approved applications for more than 9,500 persons under special immigration measures to resettle Afghan nationals who assisted the Canadian government, along with their family members.

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Context: House Hansard - 12 - Dec/7/21

Mrs. Jenna Sudds

Dec/7/21 3:54:33 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, we have been very clear that safe passage must continue to be allowed for all foreign nationals and Afghans with travel authorizations from allied countries. Afghans who wish to leave must be allowed to do so safely, but also humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach all those who need it through air and land borders. This is a clear message that Canada and over 100 allies have conveyed to the Taliban, and we will continue to do so.

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