Posted by: Lindsay C on: January 27, 2010
This article “Ottawa will fast-track Haitian adoptions, but balks at expanding Immigration” was originally published in the Toronto Star on January 20th, 2010. This article was written by Campbell Clark. This article was also used in a blog written by Beverly Wellington.
Since the earthquake in Haiti, Canada has decided to speed up 100 cases of adoption. Many Canadians are trying to adopt Haitian children, to get them out of the destruction. But the government has no intention of allowing Haitians to resettle here. “Massive resettlement is not a solution to natural disaster. The solution is reconstruction, and we’re focused and dedicated to that,” Immigration Minister Jason Kenney states. Even with this plan of attack, there are obstacles in the way that will take day’s maybe even weeks. The government still needs approval from the Haitian government, which is shambles due to the destruction. Once that is done Canada plans to “issue special temporary residency” that way the children can be brought here quickly. Even though the compassion from the Canadians is heart warming, David Morley president of Save the Children Canada said “the compassionate urge Canadians feel to adopt children from devastated Haiti must be tempered with caution. Children believed orphaned may actually have a parent, grandparent, aunt or some other relative that wants to care for them.” The Liberal Opposition would like Haitian Canadians to bring over their extended family. Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff urges the government to do more, “We think we must widen, for the Haiti crisis, the definition of family. So that Haitian families can bring in brothers, sisters, nephews. We must soften the rules for humanitarian reasons,” he told reporters Wednesday. Canadians can sponsor Haitians, but they can only adopt nieces/nephews, grandchildren who are under the age of 18. The fast-tracking adoptions should bring in 5,000 Haitians to Canada.
This article is important because it lets the Canadians citizens know what other Canadians are doing for the Haitians other than donate money. Putting the political aspect aside, this is a very heart warming and compassionate story that all Canadians should be aware of.
I would have to disagree; I do believe that what the government is doing is great. Fast tracking 100 adoption cases is better than none. The story isn’t about denying the hundreds of thousands of Haitian people. The Canadian government is doing what they think is best, and out of the 100 adoption cases it can bring over 5,000 Haitian children. That is a lot of children who will have homes, food and a loving family. The Canadian government isn’t denying adoptions, but there are limitations. This would be understandable for any country to do. The Canadian government can’t bring over everyone. But I don’t think the people over in Haiti are alone; there are people from around the world there in Haiti to help. Not only that but, Canadians aren’t the only ones who are adopting Haitian children. According to CNN in Washington, there are 300 cases of Americans waiting to adopt Haitian children. Of those, 200 cases are being accelerated. Also, CNN in London on January 21st, 2010, Aid groups are urging to stop new Haiti adoptions. Save the Children, World Vision and a unit of the British Red Cross stated “Any hasty new adoptions would risk permanently breaking up families, causing long-term damage to already vulnerable children, and could distract from aid efforts in Haiti.”They are more focused on whether these children have families first. So, should there be any hasty adoptions to begin with? If the Aid agencies are advising countries to stop any early adoptions, should we continue to do so? Getting back to Canada, I do believe that Haitian Canadians should be able to bring over their extended family. According to the 2006 Census of Canada there are 102,430 Haitian Canadians, in 5 years that could have doubled. Those 102,430 Haitian Canadians might have extended families over in Haiti and want their family over here and away from the madness and mayhem. But on the same token, who’s to say that people wouldn’t lie about their Canadian relation?
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