Canada to Quit Afghanistan – reward “loyal” Afghans with immigration

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will meet this week with U.S. President Barack Obama, to discuss whether more Canadian troops should be sent to Afghanistan.

Despite pressure from Washington, Ottawa is not keen to keep the troops in Afghanistan any longer. So far Ottawa has played an active role in rebuilding Afghanistan's education system, infrastructure, police training programs; however deteriorating security scenario in Afghanistan is forcing it to rethink.

As a gesture and reward to local Afghan staff, who often at the risk of their lives, worked for Canadian Government's mission in Kandahar, Afghanistan, the Canadian Government has decided to offer special measures to facilitate their immigration to Canada. As Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism said, “We commend their bravery to help build a better Afghanistan while recognizing the price that they have paid. Their lives and those of their families may be threatened, and some have suffered serious injury and can no longer work. To recognize their contribution, we will offer them special consideration if they wish to relocate to Canada.”

To be eligible for this offer, staff at Kandhar mission would have to prove that they faced individualized risk as a result of employment during their service with Canadian government or non-natural death due to employment and contracts in direct support of the Canadian government in Kandahar.

The dependent children of the eligible applicants would also be eligible to apply. These applicants would be eligible for similar health-care coverage and resettlement services as being offered to government-assisted refugees.

The eligible persons would have to apply for immigration before the end of the Canadian combat mission in Kandahar in 2011. About 250 applicants are expected to apply under the scheme in next 12 months.

Reeling under the economic recession with mounting job losses, voices of protest have already started appearing in various blogs and letters to newspapers editors. Common refrain is that while the government can't take care of actual Canadians yet it opening its doors to more people who want to live off the backs of working Canadians.