Giving back to our Afghan helpers

BZ to the government for this:

Canada to open doors to Afghans who aid mission

Afghan nationals who are at increased risk of injury or death for working with the Canadian mission in Afghanistan will be able to utilize a new, streamlined process to apply for permanent residency status in Canada.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Afghan citizens who have worked for the Canadian mission for a minimum of 12 months, and can prove they face injury or death as a result, may apply for the new program.

"Their lives and those of their families may be threatened by insurgents, or they may have suffered serious injuries as they worked with our government, with our troops, with our aid workers, with our diplomats," Kenney said at an Ottawa news conference on Tuesday afternoon.

"We appreciate their service. We recognize the risks that they've taken and we want to ensure their safety by offering them special consideration if they choose to relocate here to Canada."

The program applies to Afghans who have worked for the Canadian government or companies working on behalf of the Canadian government, and not private-sector organizations that are not directly part of the Canadian mission, Kenney said.

Afghans who have been injured and can no longer work due to their role in the mission can also apply to the program, as well as the children and spouses of Afghan nationals who were killed in the line of duty.

All applicants will have to undergo medical and security checks. They will also have to submit an application to a special committee that will be comprised of various Canadian government ministries working in Afghanistan...

He said the government expects there will be "a few hundred" successful applicants by the end of the program, including about 150 in the first year.

Successful applicants will qualify for much of the assistance offered conventional refugees who arrive in Canada, including help with travel costs, 12 months of income support, training programs and other help.