44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 28, 2022 11:00AM
- Feb/28/22 2:21:33 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we agree with the minister wholeheartedly. We think there are more things we can do to help Ukrainian people. Ukrainians are fleeing their country and they are looking for a safe place, but we know they do not want to be permanent refugees. They want to be able to live in a safe, peaceful and sovereign Ukraine.
Canadians and Canada can be a safe haven for them. We have the opportunity right now to host Ukrainians who are being displaced by the Putin invasion. One of the things that we could do is allow visa-free travel for Ukrainians coming to Canada. Will the government commit today to remove the requirements for visas for Ukrainians coming to Canada?
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- Feb/28/22 2:28:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this is not only a war, but also a humanitarian crisis. Over 500,000 people have already fled Ukraine, and the European Union fears this number could rise to seven million.
The government can do more for these families. It can remove visa requirements to speed up the arrival of Ukrainians who want to take temporary refuge in Canada. It can automatically extend all existing permits and visas to alleviate concerns.
Will the Deputy Prime Minister maximize the Bloc Québécois's support and do everything possible to help these displaced persons?
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- Feb/28/22 2:31:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians are watching in horror as hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians seek refuge from the unprovoked Russian invasion.
The Liberals cannot recreate the disaster in Afghanistan, where those who risked everything to help our country were left behind. The European Union and, most recently, Ireland have already waived the requirements for visas for Ukrainians, and the NDP has been calling on the Liberals to do the same. However, this morning, immigration officials said that it is not even on the table.
Time is of the essence. Will the government immediately waive visa requirements for Ukrainians?
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- Feb/28/22 6:38:21 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I welcome the general convergence of ideas in the House in the face of shared adversity. This has not happened often. I understand that the government is working with major international organizations like the G7 and NATO, among others. This is what the Bloc Québécois and likely many others were hoping to see, and it was definitely the only way forward.
However, certain decisions still need to be made domestically, such as continuing to require visas for people to come to Canada from Ukraine.
I hope my colleagues will not mind the comparison, but not all that long ago, people were crossing at Roxham Road without a visa. People were doing it, and perhaps they still are. Should we not show the same leniency to people who want to reunite with their families or come to Canada as refugees?
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- Feb/28/22 6:40:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we are witnessing a humanitarian crisis unfold in Ukraine with bombings, attacks and casualties, and Canada must do its part as countries around the world are stepping up.
One of the things we can do is learn from the past when there were significant problems with welcoming people in an emergency crisis. I look to Afghanistan as an example of what not to do when we failed in ensuring the safety of our allies to get to Canada.
When will the Prime Minister ensure that we have a visa-free, barrier-free access to Canada for Ukrainians who are seeking refuge in this time of crisis?
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- Feb/28/22 7:05:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think we are all feeling the same way. We want to be able to help Ukrainians who are fleeing.
As I said in my speech, I do not think Ukrainian people want to be permanent refugees anywhere. They want to be able to live in their home nation of Ukraine, a free, sovereign, peaceful nation. However, in the meantime, Canada could be a safe haven. Our suggestion is that we ask the government to remove the visa requirement.
We all saw what happened when Afghanistan came under attack. We were not able to bring people to Canada and protect them in the way that was expected of a nation like Canada. What we are trying to say to the government is let us get rid of the red tape right now so that we can immediately try to help people who want to come to Canada to be protected until peace is restored in their home nation.
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- Feb/28/22 7:57:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his remarks.
This has been raised a few times today, and my colleague just mentioned it again, but I am not sure we have had a clear answer as to whether the government is considering waiving visa requirements for Ukrainians coming to Canada, whether on a temporary or permanent basis, since it is an emergency situation.
I would like to hear my colleague's thoughts on that.
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- Feb/28/22 8:27:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have a serious question, and I hope the House can unite around how important it is to ensure that we have visa-free requirements for Ukrainians seeking safety. Several times today this question has been posed, and I really hope that we can get some unity on this tonight.
I would ask the member for Durham whether the Conservatives agree with the NDP's proposal, from at least 2018, to ensure that visa travel requirements for Ukrainians are waived.
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- Feb/28/22 8:41:50 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I thank the member for Mount Royal for his always unifying tone.
One thing we have heard tonight from a lot of parliamentarians is the call to waive visa requirements for those fleeing violence. I wonder if the member would mind sharing his personal views on the importance of doing so.
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- Feb/28/22 9:21:46 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I want to thank the member for his speech and for standing in solidarity with the courageous people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom and for democracy.
I asked about visa-free access before, and I did not get a clear answer from the government, so I will ask again. Ukrainians do not require visas to travel to 141 countries, including most European countries. The NDP has been calling for visa-free access for Ukrainians for the past four years. Does the member agree that Canada should offer visa-free travel to Ukrainians? What does the member think is behind the government's hesitancy to offer this to the people of Ukraine?
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- Feb/28/22 9:29:42 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, the previous speaker, my colleague, asked why Canada does not provide visa-free travel for Ukrainians when we have the largest Ukrainian diaspora in the world and 141 other countries offer that.
Will the government automatically extend the visas of Ukrainians who are here in Canada now, whether they be student or work visas, so that they are not forced to go back to Ukraine at this time?
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- Feb/28/22 10:02:52 p.m.
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Madam Chair, we have heard today how the government has acted on things like automatically extending work visas and student visas for Ukrainians here in Canada. Again, we hear of the special relationship between Ukraine and Canada. We have so many Ukrainian Canadians. It is the biggest diaspora in the world and yet we do not offer visa-free travel to Ukrainians whereas 141 other countries do.
I am wondering if the member would consider proposing that to his party so that, at least temporarily, Ukrainians could travel to Canada in this very uncertain time.
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- Feb/28/22 10:11:03 p.m.
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Madam Chair, today, a constituent in my riding of Vancouver East contacted our office. They have not been able to bring their loved ones to Canada. They have been stuck in the immigration system for more than two years because of the backlog in applications. Now that they are in this situation, obviously there is urgency. The quickest way for individuals to get to safety with their loved ones is visa-free access.
Why is the government not proceeding with that? What can we do as parliamentarians to help the government move in that direction and expeditiously bring about visa-free access for Ukrainians?
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- Feb/28/22 10:11:48 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the question of visa-free travel can be looked at and considered. I also point out to the hon. member that the government, in fact, has acted proactively, going back to January, by putting in place a plan to ensure that individuals in Ukraine who had applied to Canada for work permits, for example, would be given support to have their applications approved.
Individuals in Canada who are on a temporary resident visa, for example, or students will be able to stay longer for obvious reasons.
I think that all of us in the House look at those measures as entirely reasonable. We will continue to work together, I hope, to put to the government even more ideas about what can be done to ensure a reasonable approach that guides the way forward but one that has the well-being of all Ukrainians in mind at the forefront.
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- Feb/28/22 10:41:06 p.m.
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Madam Chair, that was a very moving speech and we all feel it. It is important to note that everyone in the House stands with Ukraine and Ukrainians in our communities and abroad.
Something that is really important for a lot of people is that Ukrainians do not require visas to travel to 114 countries, including most of Europe. Ireland announced that recently as well. The NDP has been calling for this since 2018. Why is the government so reluctant to provide visa-free travel to Ukrainians?
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- Feb/28/22 10:51:08 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I want to acknowledge my colleague from Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, who might be watching right now. I also want to congratulate the member for Surrey Centre for his speech.
Today he moved a motion to facilitate the immigration process for temporary residents or international students. Thousands, or even millions, of people will be forced to flee the ravages of war. What does my colleague think about eliminating the visa requirement for people who are fleeing war?
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- Feb/28/22 11:21:52 p.m.
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Madam Chair, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, here in Canada we have the largest Ukrainian population in the world outside of Ukraine. There are 141 countries in the world that offer Ukrainians visa-free travel, yet Canada does not. At this time especially, is there any way the government can, at least temporarily, give Ukrainians the right to visa-free travel so they can get here as safely and quickly as possible?
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- Feb/28/22 11:22:28 p.m.
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Madam Chair, there are two things. The first is we certainly have put in place, and I am sure the member is aware of it, various different measures for those who are already here to make sure their stays are extended, whether it is a student visa or people who are travelling, to ensure they do not have to go back to Ukraine right now.
To the point the member and others have been bringing up today about visas, I have not given it much thought yet. Personally when I think about it, yes it makes a lot of sense. I also know these decisions are made by weighing a whole host of different variables. I have not heard the other side of it, but the question being asked is a good one and it warrants discussion. If it is one way we can assist and it proves to be a safe and effective way, then I personally would not have anything against it.
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