Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Iraqi Christian Refugees

Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.):

Mr. Speaker, religious freedom is under attack in many countries around the world.

Countless Iraqi Christians have been driven out of their country and many of these refugees have been approved for sponsorship to Canada.

The minister refuses to meet with their Canadian sponsors or offer any assistance. The member for Etobicoke North and I have tried countless times to secure a meeting with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration or her officials to work toward a solution. We have been stonewalled every time.

I call upon the minister to go and see for herself the suffering of Iraqi Christians who have had to flee to Jordan and Syria.

Local families and community groups are ready and able to sponsor these true refugees but, sadly, many of these applications are stalled as the minority Conservative government is turning its back on these very individuals.

The rest of the world is helping and Canada just watches.

I have raised this issue in the House before and I will continue to raise it until the government commits to helping the victims of religious persecution in Iraq and around the world.

What does this minister have against Christians?