Senator Cormier: Thank you for the answer, Senator Gold.

I applaud the partnership announced by the Government of Canada last June with the Rainbow Railroad organization to protect LGBTQI+ refugees and welcome them to Canada.

What observable results has this partnership achieved to date? Is the government consulting this organization to improve the LGBTQI+ refugee intake process in Canada?

Hon. René Cormier: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

Senator Gold, in May, Amnesty International reported that LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees living in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya routinely suffer hate crimes, violence, including rape, and other serious human rights abuses.

The Kakuma camp is home to more than 200,000 asylum seekers and refugees, including hundreds of LGBTQI+ people. Activists living in the camp have been calling me personally to ask for Canada’s help.

This being LGBT History Month, here is my question for you: If Canada presents itself to the international community as a leader on 2SLGBTQI+ rights, how can it act in keeping with that reputation and fast-track the 2SLGBTQI+ refugee approval process?