Thank you.
Yes, Chair, I would also like to acknowledge the presence in the room today of members from the Yazidi community, specifically the Canadian Yazidi Association. I would like to thank them for their work in bringing this issue to the attention of Canadians.
I want to be clear, too, that these are letters that have been written to members of Parliament, and I believe also to the immigration minister in some instances. The feedback I get is that these letters are often not responded to, so I think it's important to give them voice in support of the motion we have before us today.
The next one is as follows: “I'm writing you today to request your help for reuniting my family members who are still in Iraq. I truly believe that the only way for me to successfully resettle in Canada and become an active member in my community is to bring my family together once again. Even with all the help I'm currently receiving in Calgary, I don't think I will ever be able to feel at ease in Canada as long as my family is not safe here with me. I arrived in Calgary in March 2018 with my sister and two of my brothers. Before ISIS started attacking my people, I was living with my family in the city of Kocho near Sinjar. I was working at home, taking care of my family. The day ISIS attacked our town, I was in Erbil for a doctor's appointment. After hearing the news, I fled through the Duhok region. However, my parents and my siblings were in Kocho when it was attacked by ISIS.
The letter continues: After many months of captivity, my three siblings who came with me to Canada managed to escape ISIS and meet me in the Ronga camp”—apologies if I am butchering some of the names here—“but ISIS had already murdered my parents. My other sister was also captured by ISIS, and her whereabouts are still unknown. We had to pay $20,000 to a smuggler for him to go liberate my brothers captured by ISIS. My sister, who is here with me in Canada, was liberated by the Iraqi troops months later, when they reached Mosul. She then joined us in the camp. After that, I stayed with my siblings in the camp until coming here to Canada. Here is a list of all my family members who are still alive with their current location.” They list a sister, brother, sister-in-law, aunt and two cousins. “Being separated from my family has greatly affected me. I think about them every day. This ultimately prevents me from focusing on my new life in Canada and moving on to better things. My family members are living in terrible living conditions at the moment, and it is simply not safe for them over there. They do not have access to clean water, electricity or health care. This constant worry has had a significant negative impact on my mental health. Also, my sister and one of my brothers have serious mental health problems due to their separation from the rest of our family members. Being the oldest sibling in Canada, I have to take care of my younger siblings, which is extremely difficult for me. Bringing my older siblings to Canada would help me greatly to take care of my family. We have already started a community here in Calgary, which would really facilitate the integration of the rest of my family. I hope the Canadian government will sympathize with my situation and bring my family over to Canada. My family and I really need your help.”
Another states: “I am requesting your help reuniting with my family—”