Ottawa should establish a standard of six months to reunite newcomers to Canada with their children, as many refugee and immigrant families now wait years, says a national advocacy group.
The long wait is unacceptable, especially for children who are separated from both parents, said Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees.
She said parents who have been forced to flee as refugees end up in many cases leaving their children with a grandparent, another family member or even a neighbour in their home countries.
“That is a very vulnerable situation,” Dench said in an interview.
“Sometimes, they’re staying with their grandparents, who, we often hear ... they’re not necessarily in the best of health. They don’t necessarily have the means to support the kids.”
