“This is about life and death”: Public Toolkit Launched to Mobilize All Canadians as Gazan Canadian Families Describe Cruel Failure of Federal Government’s TRV Program.

This launch includes a comprehensive toolkit to support all Canadians to demand immediate and effective action from Canadian officials.

Launched in January 2024 following extensive pressure from Palestinian-Canadians and their allies, the TRV program has been widely criticized as “dysfunctional and designed to fail.”  Initial announcements committed to facilitating the temporary refuge of up to 1,000 Gazans, later expanded to 5,000 which advocates and Palestinian-Canadians note remains woefully inadequate. 

Some 1,800 visa applicants are in Cairo, with approximately 700 of these awaiting a prolonged Canadian security clearance. These relatives remain without access to health and social services, and are in limbo at the discretion of Global Affairs Canada and Immigration and Refugee Affairs Canada. Thousands more continue to wait upwards of 16 months in Gaza itself, awaiting evacuations promised by the Canadian government. It is important to note that the ability of the Canadian government to fulfill its commitments to the TRV program are very possible.  In comparison, the stated turnaround for applications under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program was 14 days, with nearly a million approvals between 2022-2024.

To date, disgracefully the Canadian government has successfully facilitated the evacuation of only 41 individuals with the assistance of the Red Cross and only a few hundred have even made it to their evacuation list. Disturbingly, of these, two families with children were forced by Canada to leave their mothers behind as a result of what Palestinian-Canadians have described as the program’s failure to follow its own guidelines, callous bureaucratic requirements, and a lack of transparent, consistent communication with applicants and their family members.

“The Canadian government is treating Gazan families, half of whom were children averaging the age of five years old at the onset of Israel’s violence, as security threats,” stated CMPAC’s Executive Director, Khaled al-Qazzaz, “Their demands for disproportionate security clearances and biometrics have caused unfounded delays leading to ongoing preventable deaths. All the while, our Palestinian-Canadian brothers and sisters deal with unimaginable and unacceptable devastation. As Canadians we need to do better.”

Heart-wrenching testimonies underscore the urgency of the situation:

I’ve lost my brother and many other extended family members, I’m afraid to lose more while they are waiting. Also, one of my biggest fears is my deceased brother’s family. I want to evacuate them to safety after they’ve lost so much. My sister-in-law is injured and needs medical care, my 2-year-old nephew needs medical care and mental health support. My father and two siblings were taken to the hospital before because of malnutrition! — Nariman Ajjur from Surrey

“My biggest fear is hearing that they’ve been injured or killed. What keeps me going is knowing they are still alive and safe — and I pray they continue to be.” Yousra Alkhatib from Edmonton

In allyship with fellow Palestinian-Canadians, the campaign urges Canadians to exercise their civic duty and rights to call upon leaders, representatives, and public-servant officials to align Canada’s actions with Canadian values of humanity and dignity and its own program commitments. It follows a national day of action and vigil held in November 2024, where over 40 national civil society organizations called on the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Global Affairs Canada and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to fix the TRV program in a joint letter. Numerous public pressure events have called out the double standards in the TRV program’s functioning, and describe the program as steeped in institutionalized Anti-Palestinian Racism.

Key demands of the campaign include but are not limited to the following:

Expedite Immediate Processing and Prioritize Existing Applicants: Given the escalation of violence in Gaza, Canada should complete the processing of all remaining applications within 14 days. Security requirements should be equal to those applied to those faced by CUAET applicants. Flights should be chartered immediately to support transportation of relatives to Canada from Cairo.

Take Diplomatic Action for Safe Passage: Canada claims Israel as an ally and has direct access to decision-makers who can facilitate safe and timely evacuation routes for TRV holders and their families.  Global Affairs Canada’s Minister Anita Anand, Public Safety’s Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Minister Lena Diab, and Prime Minister Carney have a responsibility to negotiate with Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. With limited pathways out, it is crucial that Canada uses this influence to engage strongly with Israel, Egypt and Jordan to prevent further delays and lives lost.

Simplify and Humanize Application Requirements: With civilians facing ongoing, relentless bombardment for almost two years, it is integral that the Government of Canada adhere to its Gender-Based Analysis Plus commitments and reform to a human security approach in its program implementation. Onerous and unrealistic documentation demands, such as requesting employment history since the age of 16, are unjustified. Pregnant women having given birth while waiting on program delays are now dealing with newborn dependents who cannot be added to applications. Teenagers who turned 14 after submitting their application — the age of a required security clearance —   must now revise their applications and complete the Canadian-mandated security clearance, leading to further delays in obtaining approval.

Establish a Permanent Humanitarian Pathway: Create a long-term and dedicated immigration stream for Palestinian families affected by conflict and displacement, including a pathway to permanent residency for TRV holders and their families. 

Reform and Relaunch the Gaza TRV Program with Integrity and Equity: The Gaza Family Reunification program must not simply be reopened in its current broken form. It must be fundamentally reformed to address systemic flaws, eliminate arbitrary caps, and ensure transparent, equality-driven and accessible processes. Eligibility must be expanded to include more categories of relatives still trapped in Gaza, and the program must prioritize and recognize vulnerable individuals, including women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and family units who have been separated.  Comprehensive support for those arriving should be integrated into the program. These programs should be immediately pursued with provinces and territories as was the case with Syrian resettlement to Canada, underscoring that this can be done. It is critical to ensure that all arrivals can work, go to school, and receive essential healthcare, including mental health supports.

The coalition urges all Canadians to utilize the provided toolkit and join the call for a more humane and effective Gaza TRV Program.

To view the Public Toolkit, click here