Paul Watson: Immigration Minister

Jason Kenney Dept: In April 2009 and again in September that year, Kenney announced that Afghans who worked as interpreters for Canadian soldiers would be allowed to immigrate to Canada, according to The Star. This week, after the Star s Paul Watson shone a spotlight on the issue, Kenney sweetened his original promise, saying as many as 550 Afghan interpreters will be allowed to come to Canada and for a year Sayed Shah Sharifi, an interpreter for Canadian troops in Afghanistan, has been waiting for Ottawa to tell him he can have refuge in Canada under a special visa program. His case is still being processed. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney now says he ll open the doors wider and speed up the visa program for Afghan interpreters and their families. Good. But he s been saying that for more than two years. Kenney s proposal allowed 450 interpreters to apply under the special visa program, but a meagre 60 have been accepted so far. Kenney blames bureaucratic delays and security problems in Kandahar for the long wait by Sharifi and others. As reported in the news.
@t canadian troops in afghanistan, visa program