NDP alleges feds ‘lost’ 2,900 applications of Afghans who worked for Canada – National

The standing of two,900 purposes from Afghans vetted by the Division of Nationwide Defence (DND) stays a thriller, one month after senior DND officers testified that solely 900 of three,800 vetted purposes had been authorised by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) division.

“That implies that the federal government, the immigration division, has misplaced some [2,900] recordsdata,” NDP Immigration Critic Jenny Kwan informed International Information.

“They can’t discover them. They have no idea the place they’re. And other people’s lives are hanging within the steadiness as a result of these purposes are usually not being processed.”

“I don’t have any motive to imagine any recordsdata are misplaced,” Immigration Minister Sean Fraser informed a parliamentary committee on Might 12.

His workplace reiterated to International Information on Wednesday that the recordsdata aren’t misplaced, however he declined an interview request and wouldn’t present any details about the place they could be.

4 weeks since DND’s testimony, neither Fraser’s workplace, nor the IRCC may reply International Information’ questions on what number of of these 3,800 vetted candidates have truly arrived in Canada.

“We anticipate extra invites to use (to the Particular Immigration Program) will probably be issued within the coming weeks by IRCC to people who’ve been recognized by GAC and DND as having had a big and/or enduring relationship with the Authorities of Canada,” spokesperson Aidan Strickland informed International Information, with out offering specifics.

The accountability to course of and maintain monitor of refugee purposes lies with IRCC, nonetheless, International Information approached DND for solutions as nicely. Its officers have to date supplied the one window into the standing of this particular class of Afghans, “with an everlasting relationship with the Canadian Armed Forces,” as Chief of the Protection Workers Basic Wayne Eyre recognized them in his Might 9 testimony.

“They’re not misplaced,” DND spokesperson Jessica Lamirande informed International Information concerning the 2,900 excellent recordsdata, explaining DND retains copies of recordsdata forwarded to IRCC.

DND has been serving to IRCC by “cross-referencing names in opposition to present personnel recordsdata of Afghans who supplied providers to the CAF” and, the place no information have been obtainable, taking an in depth take a look at supplied paperwork and contacting navy members listed as references.

However the standing of the excellent 2,900 purposes stays unclear.

International Information has reviewed documentation and credentials for one of many individuals caught in Afghanistan for the reason that fall of Kabul in August. The person is just too afraid for his life to share his title, however supplied an announcement about his scenario.

“We’re virtually the dwelling lifeless,” he wrote.

He says he’s preventing two battles, one in opposition to the Taliban, the opposite with IRCC.

“(The) authorities altogether doesn’t give a rattling about us being left right here to die and stay in desperation, whereas at all times considering what could occur, how and the place it might occur, and always checking our 360 (diploma) environment, each rifle holder with suspicion as if he can see by means of me, grasp my previous with a blink and…unleash his interior beast on me.”

He says he’s misplaced the sense of a traditional life, not leaving his home for 3 months, and never letting his youngsters go to highschool, fearing the worst.

International Information reviewed Afghanistan-based contracts he had with the Canadian authorities, in addition to documentation the place he outlines his numerous positions together with work as an interpreter.

An e-mail from the Defence Minister’s workplace dated Nov. 3 notes the person’s “info was confirmed by DND and despatched to IRCC.”

“There aren’t any problems with safety left right here. All that’s left to do is for the Canadian authorities to make good on their promise, and that’s to carry these people and their households right here to Canada safely,” stated Kwan.

“Canada’s dedication to offering safety to not less than 40,000 weak Afghans has not waivered,” Fraser spokesperson Aidan Strickland informed International Information.

But of these 40,000 refugees, solely 14,645 have arrived in Canada as of June 1, based on the latest information from IRCC.

Ten months after the autumn of Kabul, that’s fewer than 40 per cent of the quantity promised.