A Richmond woman has launched a petition asking the federal government to allow more Palestinians fleeing Gaza to enter Canada.
The petition, launched by Ayako Gallagher on Friday through the House of Commons portal, has already garnered more than 2,300 signatures.
In a press release, Gallagher notes the 1,000-person cap on people fleeing Gaza is “discriminatory” given the number of Ukrainians fleeing that worn-torn country being allowed into Canada.
Israel and Gaza have been at war since October after Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages.
Since then, Israel has waged a war on Gaza to root out Hamas, considered a terrorist organization. Some estimates say about 30,000 Gazans have died. According to the U.N., 1.7 million Gazans have been displaced and many are facing hunger.
The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel, not considered a refugee program, allows Ukrainians to come to Canada to work and live for three years and has no cap.
In January, the federal government said it would take in up to 1,000 Palestinians who have been affected by the war in Gaza and who have a family member with Canadian citizenship or permanent residency sponsoring them. This program is set to expire on Jan. 9, 2025.
Vancouver resident Nasser Alnajjar, who helped Gallagher write the petition, said he has seven family members who filled out their applications four months ago but have yet to hear back from Canadian officials.
"My family could die waiting for their application codes," Alnajjar said in a press release.
Petition to be tabled in House of Commons
The petition was authorized by Parm Bains, member of Parliament for Steveston-Richmond East whose constituent Gallagher is.
Bains told the Richmond News the petition will be tabled in the House of Commons after it closes.
Such petitions allow Canadians to have their voice heard in Parliament, he added.
Bains said Canada has been consistent since the beginning of the conflict advocating for sustainable peace and that all the hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 be returned.
"We want a pathway to safety and a two-state solution," he said, adding Canada has gone "above and beyond" to advocate for a peace in the region.
Bains said he's met with both Muslim and Jewish leaders in Richmond and he believes the city remains "united" in wanting a peaceful solution.
"Those issues of human rights are pertinent to both sides," Bains said. "We want peace. We want humanitarian aid to reach everyone. We want the killing to stop."
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