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e-5198 (Citizenship and immigration)
E-petition
Initiated by Nour Sabbagh from Chestermere, Alberta
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
- Since September 23, 2023, more than one thousand Israeli strikes have killed hundreds of people and injured thousands across Lebanon, placing civilians across the country at grave risk of harm;
- Canada responded to the crisis in Ukraine with the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET), granting Ukrainians the ability to flee similar atrocities;
- The extensive and invasive temporary visa application requirements for Lebanese are impractical especially for those who are facing the current atrocities, compared to the program offered for Ukrainians; and
- There are Canadian citizens in Lebanon that urgently require evacuation.
We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to:
1. Implement a special visa program akin to CUAET for Lebanese extended families;
2. Commit to Canadians that Lebanese can seek refuge in Canada by expanding access to temporary resident visas;
3. Ensure the application requirements are fair and equitable;
4. Continue diplomatic efforts to negotiate with Israel for the safe evacuation of Canadian citizens and their extended families from Lebanon;
5. Improve transparency through a clear public statement outlining procedures, processes, and notification timelines for current applicants awaiting for their temporary visas; and
6. Give priority to evacuating women, children, and the elderly.
- Open for signature
- October 23, 2024, at 2:02 p.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- November 22, 2024, at 2:02 p.m. (EDT)
