Work to right wrongs will never cease
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This article was published 28/12/2020 (884 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
For most individuals, this time of year is filled with family and community gatherings. Along with the many recognized religious and cultural holidays, it is also the darkest month of the year, and closeness with loved ones and friends can bring comfort and warmth.
This year, many of us are missing these moments of togetherness, which is why it is important that we work together to fight isolation and keep our networks of community care going safely, including better supporting members of the shelterless community.
That is why, on Dec. 9, I put forward a unanimous consent motion calling on members of Parliament to vote in favour of the critical actions required to deal with the housing crisis that has worsened during the pandemic.
This included increasing support for individuals who are chronically unhoused and an Urban Indigenous Housing strategy led by Indigenous people. I am pleased to report that my motion passed with unanimous consent.
In addition to taking action to address some of our local housing issues, our office has been working very hard with families who are being kept apart as they work through an often cumbersome immigration system. This has resulted in many Winnipeg Centre residents waiting for many months or sometimes even years to receive approval for immigration or resettlement for their partners, children, siblings, parents or other close relatives to join them in Canada. This includes family members who are living in difficult or even life-or-death situations. COVID-19 has not stopped conflict in our world, and the pandemic has threatened the stability and economy of many countries. Many are kept awake at night worrying about their family members.
The backlog within the immigration system prior to the pandemic has worsened since COVID-19. Although I appreciate Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino’s public statements about the importance of family reunification, families are waiting for actions and not words.
It is for this reason that I am calling on the Government of Canada to make amendments to our current immigration system, including increasing resources beyond pre-COVID levels to ensure that families that should be together are together.
I want to acknowledge that this can be a difficult time of year for many individuals. It is for this reason that we need to keep supporting each other in the community as we do so well in Winnipeg Centre.
As we start a new year in 2021 we will continue to put community at the centre and continue fighting to realize human rights for all.
Leah Gazan
Winnipeg Centre constituency report
Leah Gazan is the NDP Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre.