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Feb 9 • 9 tweets • 4 min read
These Syrian refugees won their court fight. But they’re still waiting for Canada to let them in

Story by @nkeung
thestar.com/news/canada/20…
Three years ago, Mohamad Basel Alnajjar's family and 21 others won a court appeal and Ottawa was ordered to reconsider their immigration applications — but a decision is yet to come, even as they run out of money and options.

thestar.com/news/canada/20…
In January 2019, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada refused all 22 private refugee-sponsorship applications, including Alnajjar’s, made by Mississauga-based immigration consulting company Fast to Canada.

thestar.com/news/canada/20…
The department alleged the company was making money from these Syrian families and demanding they pay their own settlement funds up front.

Canada's Federal Court called the immigration refusal "unreasonable."
thestar.com/news/canada/20…
But they're still waiting for a decision from the federal government.

Alnajjar said he and the others are living on the edge as their wait for a resettlement decision extends.

thestar.com/news/canada/20…
Another applicant, Wael Rasheed, has already run out of status in Saudi Arabia after he was let go from his job.

He had to use up the resettlement fund he borrowed from a Canadian relative to survive. “I’m broke and the money doesn’t exist anymore."

thestar.com/news/canada/20…
“I cannot move freely in the city because my residential card has expired and I could be jailed because of that. If that happens, I will be kept in prison until I can pay the fine,” said Rasheed.

thestar.com/news/canada/20…
Alnajjar's application is in the queue to be reviewed, but he's not sure how much longer his family and others can hang on in where they are before immigration officials can make up their minds.

thestar.com/news/canada/20…
Read the full story here:

thestar.com/news/canada/20…

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More from @TorontoStar

Toronto Star Profile picture
Feb 10
NEW: ‘Immediately’ end protest or face arrest, Ottawa police warn truckers.

The federal government made clear that it is not prepared to invoke emergency powers to take the reins of the crisis. thestar.com/politics/feder…
Ottawa police issued their sternest warning yet to protesters on Wednesday — broadcasting that they could be arrested without warning if they persist with the occupation of the city’s downtown core. thestar.com/politics/feder…
The message said if the demonstrators don’t stop blocking city streets they could be arrested, charged, and have their vehicles seized and possibly forfeited. thestar.com/politics/feder…
Read 5 tweets
Toronto Star Profile picture
Feb 9
“It was infuriating and painful. It reawakened a lot of hurt."

While Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has apologized on Twitter for his comments comparing attitudes toward the unvaccinated and that of AIDS patients, some Albertans say it's not enough.
thestar.com/news/canada/20…
"It reawakened a lot of hurt that I carry with me after growing up in a very anti-gay fundamentalist Christian community,” Kyle Shanebeck, a PhD candidate at University of Alberta said. “I take (his apology) one for what it is: political manoeuvering."
thestar.com/news/canada/20…
Growing up in Alberta, Doug Kerr, executive director of Dignity Network Canada, came out in the 80s, a time where there was “so much hatred and fear."

“My friends who died of AIDS had no choice and it is just appalling for Kenney to make this comparison."
thestar.com/news/canada/20…
Read 6 tweets
Toronto Star Profile picture
Feb 9
Starting Wednesday, the province is offering free rapid test kits for Ontarians to use at home.

Here's where you can to get a free COVID-19 rapid antigen test in Ontario. torstar.co/c82E50HQZsc
More than 2,300 grocery stores and pharmacies are offering the free test kits.

Some of the individual retailers will only offer free kits to people who make online purchases.
thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
Longo’s is making the free kits available only through its Grocery Gateway online delivery service.

Walmart is also making free kits available only through its grocery pickup service in-store or by placing an online order.
thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
Read 5 tweets
Toronto Star Profile picture
Feb 9
As the Omicron wave of COVID-19 subsides, non-emergency surgeries, including cancer and heart procedures, are resuming, says Health Minister Christine Elliott. torstar.co/9vjL50HQXgN
“We are currently tracking towards the best-case projections thanks to the sacrifices of Ontarians and unwavering efforts of our health-care workers,” Elliott said.
thestar.com/politics/provi…
Mindful that thousands of procedures were halted by government directive early last month in order to free up hospital beds for COVID patients, many of whom are unvaccinated, the minister said the prognosis is good.
thestar.com/politics/provi…
Read 5 tweets
Toronto Star Profile picture
Feb 9
At drop-ins across the city for those who are homeless or low income, personal hygiene products like pads, tampons and adult diapers have long been in short supply.

Advocates have pleaded with city council members to do more ahead of the 2022 budget. thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
“To give out things like hygiene supplies shouldn’t be a luxury — it’s something we should be readily able to do," said Chan McNally of the Toronto Drop-in Network. "But it’s almost impossible for us to purchase these things out of our own budgets.” thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
Advocates have pleaded with council members to do more to provide personal hygiene products, even after an injection of nearly a quarter-million dollars for menstrual products in 2020 they say is not trickling down to the less-funded drop-ins.
thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
Read 6 tweets
Toronto Star Profile picture
Feb 9
Her mom died of COVID after attending anti-vaccine rallies. This Toronto woman wants to warn others.
thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
“She’s a good example of somebody who got brainwashed over the years,” said Ute Lehrer, a York University professor who attended Saturday’s counterprotest at the University of Toronto to support health-care workers, about her mom who died due to COVID.
thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
At a recent protest, the Toronto woman whose mother passed away from COVID-19 held a homemade sign that carried a simple message: “Get vaccinated you idiots.”
thestar.com/news/gta/2022/…
Read 6 tweets

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