TORONTO – Today’s government announcement regarding expedited immigration and adoption processes and additional support for Haitian-Canadian families is a commendable step in the right direction, though more changes are needed, according to New Democrat Immigration Critic Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina).

“The government has announced a number of commendable changes to immigration and adoption policies for Haitian-Canadian families, but we need them to go further,” says Chow. “The government has not changed the policy in order to allow the sponsoring of siblings. This is a very significant part of the changes we asked for. Canadians consider their brothers and sisters as part of their family. We need to help them bring them home.”

New Democrats called on the government to provide priority processing and to expedite the immigration and adoption applications of Haitian-Canadian families; to expand the existing family-class definition to include siblings, uncles, aunts and older children; and to fast-track the private refugee sponsorship applications for churches and non-governmental organizations looking to sponsor Haitian refugees.

The government implemented most of these changes, with the exception of expanding the family-class definition and expedited refugee sponsorships.

“While we are encouraged by the changes announced today, New Democrats will continue to press the government to go further, particularly to allow the sponsoring of siblings,” says Chow. “It is our responsibility to do everything in our power to help Haitians reunite with their Canadian families.”