2004-02

CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION ANNOUNCES PLAN OF ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION IN HAITI

OTTAWA, February 21, 2004 — Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Judy Sgro, announced today the plan of action put in place in response to the current period of civil unrest in Haiti.

“We are committed to ensuring that our services continue to be available to the people of Haiti in Canada and in Haiti in this period of need,” said Minister Sgro. “We will maintain our services in Haiti for as long as the situation permits and we have made arrangements to establish a temporary office in Santo Domingo.”

The following steps have been implemented to deal with this evolving situation:

Abroad

• CIC will maintain the best possible service to the people in Haiti for as long as the situation allows it. Arrangements are already in place to ensure services in the region continue. CIC has established a temporary visa office in the Canadian Embassy, Santo-Domingo, Dominican Republic to deal with temporary resident applications.
• The visa office in Haiti is now processing on a priority basis the applications of spouses, partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

In Canada

• Flexible consideration will be given to people from Haiti seeking to extend their stay in Canada.
• Immigration officers at the ports of entry will adopt a flexible approach when dealing with Haitian clients in view of the situation in Haiti.
• The Canada Border Services Agency has deferred removals to Haiti while they assess the situation.

“CIC will continue to work in close collaboration with its partners as this situation evolves” said Minister Sgro.

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For more information:

Simone MacAndrew
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Tel: (613) 954-1064

Maria Iadinardi
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Tel: (613) 952-0740