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Afghan interpreters demand Ottawa keep promise to help endangered family members

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Former Afghanistan interpreters begin a hunger strike on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, March 31, 2022. The group who helped the Canadian military say the federal government has lied to them about bringing family members to Canada, and that people have died while waiting for paperwork to be processed.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA – Dozens of Afghan interpreters who worked with Canada’s military gathered on Parliament Hill to demand the federal government help their family members.

The government introduced a special immigration stream in December to bring the families of Afghan interpreters to Canada.

The move followed pressure from interpreters, refugee advocates and veterans for the government to do more to help people endangered for their links to Canada.

But while hundreds of family members have applied to the program, the interpreters say none have actually made it Canada.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has said the government is facing unprecedented logistical challenges getting people out of Afghanistan.

However, he says it has a moral obligation to make good on the commitment to help the families of Afghan interpreters.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2022.

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