TRENTON, Canada

A program to grant temporary visas for Palestinians with families in Canada has been a “failure,” Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Wednesday.  

Canada opened the door for up to 1,000 Palestinians, but as of Monday, only 14 had been approved out of 984 applicants because the latter cannot leave Gaza to undergo a screening step in Egypt. 

“This is a program that we knew from the get-go could be a failure,” Miller said. “Up to now, it is a failure, and it’s something I think we need to recognize.” 

The pathway, as it is called, opened up in January with an initial goal of bringing 1,000 Palestinians who were sponsored by close family to Canada. 

The quota was quickly filled, but there has been little movement because the path out of Gaza is controlled by Israel and Egypt. 

“The Government of Canada has put forward names of people who passed preliminary eligibility and admissibility reviews to local authorities for approval, but does not ultimately decide who can exit,” an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) spokesperson said in an email to Global News. 

“Fourteen people who exited Gaza on their own and had (temporary resident visa) applications in process were able to submit biometrics and complete their application.” 

Miller said Tuesday’s government-approved motion to suspend arms exports to Israel and emphasize the need for a two-state solution does not bode well for the Palestinian immigration program.​​​​​​​ 

“The adoption of that motion doesn’t help getting people out,” he said. “Any actions that are seen as to be unfavorable can affect their (Israeli) decision-making at the highest political level.”