Immigration minister 'upset' Canadians are being prevented from leaving Gaza for their families – Winnipeg Free Press

OTTAWA — Canada's immigration minister is “disappointed” that a list of Canadians linked to the Gaza Strip has been banned from leaving, he said Wednesday.

Ottawa last month began accepting applications to reunite nearly 1,000 people from the Palestinian territories with extended family members in Canada.

Canada has provided an initial list of pre-approved people to Israel and Egypt, which jointly control the only border crossing out of Gaza.

Immigration Minister Mark Miller said on Parliament Hill: “Maybe there's a fear on the ground about whether these people should be deported, but it's a humanitarian gesture and it really upsets me.”

Miller has previously said he is willing to be flexible about the number of people who can access the program.

But he told the House of Commons on Tuesday it was “very difficult” to expand the program if no one could cross the border.

The minister said he was considering diplomatic options and wanted to explore them before speaking publicly.

“I don't want to create a system that creates false hope, but I also don't want to give up and not try,” Miller said.

“It's really upsetting and obviously it's a matter of life and death for the families.”

If people on the government's list can make it across the border, they still have to be screened before being allowed to board a flight to Canada.