On November 1, 2023, in the wake of devastating losses in Gaza where thousands of Palestinians perished, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened with bereaved families at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. These families, who had endured profound losses, implored Trudeau to leverage Canada’s strong ties with Israel to facilitate the safe evacuation of Palestinian-Canadian families from Gaza.

In January 2024, the Canadian government finally responded to longstanding appeals by committing to welcome 1,000 Palestinians for family reunification, offering a glimmer of hope to numerous families. Under mounting public pressure, this initial commitment was subsequently increased to 5,000, reflecting a broader recognition of the urgent need for action. These decisions followed sharp criticism of Ottawa’s lackluster evacuation of Canadians from Gaza compared to those from Israel, and emerged amidst brewing legal challenges against the government. However, despite these promises, not a single Palestinian has exited Gaza with help from Canada, and Minister Marc Miller has placed the blame towards Israel for allegedly blocking the process. His narrative, however, is starkly contradicted by the extortionate fees of 5,000 USD per person levied by an Egyptian-linked company  that facilitates the crossing of Palestinians across the border, suggesting that security concerns are not the real obstacle.

Families, desperate for reunification, are draining their life savings, refinancing homes, or borrowing vast sums to finance these exorbitant fees. For families with five or more members, the financial burden is crippling. Once these families manage to leave Gaza, they find themselves stranded in Egypt, with no assurance from Canada of their eventual visa to join their family. Furthermore, the visa application process itself is bizarrely stringent, demanding such minutiae as descriptions of body scars, requirements not applied to most other foreigners.

Repeated discussions with Minister Miller and his office have yielded no tangible improvements. On the contrary, the government has offloaded the financial burden onto Canadian Muslim-led charities, expecting they cover everything from airfare to settlement support upon arrival. These families, who arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs, are now reliant on a coalition of Canadian charities and community-based organizations, which are already stretched thin, to step in where government agencies have stepped back. This coalition has spent over 2.3 million to provide crucial support to over 800 individuals from Gaza, including financial assistance, trauma care, and general well-being—all without the benefit of any government programs.

Adding insult to injury, the temporary visas issued by Canada bar recipients from working, offer limited healthcare, and complicate the approvals of work permits—a stark contrast to the expedited permanent residency process afforded to Ukrainians under similar circumstances. Without the ability to work or access adequate healthcare, arriving families face significant challenges in achieving independence and reducing their reliance on social services. 

The current policy is not just a logistical failure; it is a moral one, reflecting a deeply ingrained bias in government and a concerning pattern of prejudice that impacts not just Palestinians but various minority groups across the board. This disparity paints a troubling picture of systemic bias, in which programs intended for visible minorities (like Syrians, Afghans, and Sudanese) are inherently prejudiced and set up for failure.

This situation underscores the important role of Canada’s Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby, in addressing what may be an example of systemic bias within government policies. Ms. Elghawaby has already been engaging with community groups to better understand the issue, but the government needs to work with her to conduct a comprehensive review and revise its approach to Palestinian resettlement to ensure it is free of bias and offers greater fairness and equity.

This situation should be unacceptable to every Canadian. We must demand accountability and demand for policies that offer real support to those in need, ensuring their successful integration into Canadian society.

Canadian charities are at their limits, grappling with the humanitarian emergency in Gaza while simultaneously aiding families upon their arrival here. Ottawa’s unfulfilled commitment not only betrays the promises made to families who sought solace from Prime Minister Trudeau last November, but it also sets everyone up for failure. This situation poses a stark question every Canadian should be asking their Members of Parliament: Why are Palestinians being relegated to second-class status on our soil? It’s time for a hard reckoning with our values and policies.

Mahmuda Khan serves as the CEO of Human Concern International, and Raheel Irfan is the CEO of National Zakat Foundation. Both are leading members of the coalition dedicated to supporting Palestinians settling in Canada.