National

Afghan human rights activists arrive in Canada

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Jan, 2022 02:58 PM

OTTAWA - Six months after the federal government promised to help thousands of Afghan women leaders, human rights activists and journalists flee to Canada, the first planeload has landed.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced the arrival of 250 Afghan refugees this afternoon, including the first 170 admitted through a special program for human rights defenders.

It is a privilege to welcome over 250 Afghan refugees to 🇨🇦 today, including 170 human rights defenders.

These new Canadians have worked for decades to promote and protect human rights in Afghanistan, and I’m proud that they now call our country home. pic.twitter.com/TLJrt1n3GA
— Sean Fraser (@SeanFraserMP) January 11, 2022

The Liberal government launched the program in July following weeks of criticism from angry Canadian veterans.

The veterans were upset Ottawa wasn’t doing more to help Afghans facing possible Taliban reprisals for having worked with Canada in the past.

While the Liberals also promised to resettle a total of 40,000 Afghans, the government says fewer than 7,000 have so far arrived.

It was not immediately clear when today’s arrivals, who landed in Calgary, fled Afghanistan, which has been under Taliban rule since August.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

368 COVID19 cases for Thursday

There are currently 3,020 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 213,694 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 284 individuals are in hospital and 97 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

368 COVID19 cases for Thursday

Commons alone can decide vaccine mandate: Rota

House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota says the chamber's governing body overstepped its authority when it required anyone entering the Commons precinct to be fully vaccinated. Rota has sided with the Conservatives in concluding that the all-party board of internal economy did not have the authority to impose a vaccine mandate.

Commons alone can decide vaccine mandate: Rota

COVID-19 testing confusion at Canadian airports

As health officials from around the world warned about the new Omicron variant, Ottawa announced earlier this week that all air passengers entering Canada, except those from the United States, need to be tested upon arrival and isolate until they get their results.

COVID-19 testing confusion at Canadian airports

Helijet to add electric helicopters to B.C. fleet

Helijet president Danny Sitnam says the company has partnered with Blade, a technology company, to begin work to build and integrate the so-called electric vertical aircraft into its fleet.

Helijet to add electric helicopters to B.C. fleet

Thief steals package with expensive stroller and uses a stolen Mercedes to commit the crime

The theft caught on camera shows a vehicle with its trunk already open pulling up to a doorstep with a large box sitting out front. Within moments, a woman from the vehicle grabs the package and is seen on camera jamming the box into the car.

Thief steals package with expensive stroller and uses a stolen Mercedes to commit the crime

Surgery backlog exacerbates inequities: coalition

Steven Staples with the Canadian Health Coalition says he's not surprised that the Nordorthopaedics Clinic in Kaunas, Lithuania, has reported a 50 per cent increase in Canadian patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.