Last Updated on August 14, 2020, 10:48 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Canada is setting up an immigration task force for supporting Lebanon.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Immigration of Canada issued a statement saying that the task force would assist the people who have been affected by the tragic events which took place in Beirut last week.
The Ministers said in the statement that the purpose of the task force would be to ensure that immigration questions can be quickly addressed and to support the delivery of consular services.
The Canadian government has committed to allowing Lebanese citizens who are temporarily in Canada to extend their stay in Canada if they are not able to return home due to the explosion.
Also, the Lebanese citizens presently in Canada temporarily, and Canadians and permanent residents who are in Lebanon and need to return home would be exempt from fees related to the renewal of status documents.
Canadians, as well as permanent residents in Lebanon, have the right of returning to Canada, provided that COVID-19 related measures are followed.
Immediate family members of the foreign nationals who are related to the Canadian citizens and permanent residents are exempt too.
The exemptions are subject to the possession of a valid temporary resident visa; a minimum 15-day visitor stays in Canada and a mandatory two-week quarantine.
International students who are coming from Lebanon may also travel to Canada if they have a valid study permit which was issued before March 18, 2020.
Lebanese immigration to Canada has a storied and long history.
The first Lebanese immigrant who came to Canada is believed to have arrived in Canada’s Montreal in 1882.
Lebanese-Canadians are among the many prominent members of Canadian society. They comprise the likes of federal, provincial, and municipal politicians, athletes, musicians, academics, civil society officials, and business people.
Currently, Lena Diab is Canada’s longest-serving immigration minister. She has served as the province of Nova Scotia’s immigration minister since 2013. Diab was born in Nova Scotia but moved with her family to Lebanon during her childhood before eventually returning to Canada.
Today, the Canadian government estimates there are between 200,000 and 400,000 Canadians of Lebanese origin living in Canada.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
