IRCC to provide financial assistance for Gazans arriving in Canada

Palestinians who have left Gaza will soon receive transitional financial assistance from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) when they arrive in Canada.

The department says that this financial assistance will help Gazans to meet their basic needs upon arrival, such as food, shelter, and clothing, while they look for work. IRCC will release more details about the program “when available.”

“Providing settlement and financial support is critical to addressing the immediate challenges faced by Gazans finding safety in Canada,” says Canada’s immigration minister Marc Miller.

In addition to the financial supports, Gazans fleeing conflict in the region will benefit from:

• three months of temporary health coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program to help address urgent medical needs upon arrival; and
• settlement services such as language training, information about and orientation to life in Canada (such as help enrolling children in school or opening a bank account), and information and services to help them find a job.

So far, 4,245 applications have been accepted into processing under IRCC’s temporary resident pathway for Palestinian extended family in Gaza and 733 people have been approved to come to Canada. These individuals had Temporary Resident Visa applications in progress and were able to submit their biometrics.

IRCC says that movement out of Gaza is “extremely challenging” due to “factors outside of Canada’s control” and that it is working with local authorities to help extended family members of Canadians.

As of October 5, 334 people have arrived in Canada through the temporary public policy.

Canada has also announced that it will provide $140 million in humanitarian assistance funding to help address urgent needs in the Gaza strip, the West Bank, Israel, and neighbouring areas. Funding will go to essentials such as food, water, and emergency medical assistance in these areas.

Wider measures on humanitarian grounds

IRCC has instituted a number of measures for both Palestinian and Israeli citizens who have been impacted by the conflict in the Middle East.

For example, in January of this year IRCC instituted a new policy for Palestinians currently in the Gaza strip who are related* to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident that will support their transition to life in Canada.

*For the purposes of this policy, related is defined as being the:

• Spouse or common-law partner;
• Children or grandchildren;
• Sibling; or
• Parents or Grandparents of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Successful applicants to this pathway have the opportunity to receive temporary resident status in Canada for up to three years, allowing them to potentially work (on an open work permit) and/or study in the country during this time. Family members of applicants eligible for this pathway could also apply for a study or work permit when joining their family members in Canada.

Concurrently with the above policy IRCC has also streamlined processing of family-class applications for permanent residence (PR) for those with Palestinian family members impacted by the on-going conflict in the region.