In late August 2025, the Gaza TRV Reunification Coalition issued an urgent open letter to Prime Minister Carney and relevant ministers, calling for immediate action on the Gaza Family Reunification Program. Despite commitments to support 5,000 family members, only 864 have successfully arrived in Canada, with many facing intrusive scrutiny and separation.
Following this, on Friday, September 26, 2025, the coalition sent targeted letters to key sectors, including settlement, healthcare, feminist and gender-based violence organizations, and human rights communities, urging sector leaders to raise awareness and advocate for urgent government action. Below, you can read each of these sector letters in full.
Dear allies in humanity and in Canada’s Settlement community:
In late August, our tiny but mighty coalition issued an open letter to Prime Minister Carney, Minister Diab, Minister Anand, and Minister Anandasangaree demanding immediate action on Canada’s commitment for the Gaza Family Reunification Program. We have yet to receive a response.
In May 2024, almost 6 months after initially announcing the program capped at 1000 intended arrivals, Canada committed to supporting 5000 family members under the Gaza TRV program. As of July 2025, only 864 Palestinians – all direct relatives of Palestinian hosts in Canada – have made it to Canada. Canadian officials have assisted in less than 2% of program applicants in evacuation, and have used the program to justify intrusive data collection on family members. Applicants have also been forced to endure unreasonable and concerning scrutiny, subjecting families to securitization using policies designed for those deemed threats to national security. This is after those same families have already completed extensive application processes and biometrics requests. We also have confirmed reports of families being separated at evacuation points at the discretion of the Canadian government. The list of concerns and violations is lengthy.
We are now reaching out for your allyship and support through concerted action. You will find a letter for sign on by members of the Canadian Settlement Sector here. A sign-on form is at the bottom of the letter.
We ask that you as leaders and points of contact in your respective sector, please immediately mobilize your networks, organizations and sector leaders to sign onto these letters which we will then issue to the Canadian government.
Time is of the essence as the severity of the situation has already seen family members not make it.
Please share within your trusted circles and remind allies and colleagues to sign on by October 9.
For those with folks wanting to do more, please share this toolkit widely with your networks, colleagues, friends and family. In addition to this sign-on we encourage your respective organizations to also send your own letters of concern on this issue.
Every single action matters. Our power is in our unity and solidarity.
Sincerely,
Amnesty International Canada
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council
Righting Relations Canada
Rural Refugee Rights Network
Sustainable Human Empowerment (SHE) Associates
The United Church of Canada
Dear allies in humanity and the healthcare sector of Canada:
In late August, our tiny but mighty coalition issued an open letter to Prime Minister Carney, Minister Diab, Minister Anand, and Minister Anandasangaree demanding immediate action on Canada’s commitment for the Gaza Family Reunification Program. We have yet to receive a response.
In May 2024, almost 6 months after initially announcing the program capped at 1000 intended arrivals, Canada committed to supporting 5000 family members under the Gaza TRV program. As of July 2025, only 864 Palestinians – all direct relatives of Palestinian hosts in Canada – have made it to Canada. Canadian officials have assisted in less than 2% of program applicants in evacuation, and have used the program to justify intrusive data collection on family members. Applicants have also been forced to endure unreasonable and concerning scrutiny, subjecting families to securitization using policies designed for those deemed threats to national security. This is after those same families have already completed extensive application processes and biometrics requests. We also have confirmed reports of families being separated at evacuation points at the discretion of the Canadian government. The list of concerns and violations is lengthy.
We are now reaching out for your allyship and support through concerted action. You will find a letter for sign on by members of the Canadian health sector here. A sign-on form is at the bottom of the letter.
We ask that you as leaders and points of contact in your respective sector, please immediately mobilize your networks, organizations and sector leaders to sign onto these letters which we will then issue to the Canadian government.
Time is of the essence as the severity of the situation has already seen family members not make it.
Please share within your trusted circles and remind allies and colleagues to sign on by October 9.
For those with folks wanting to do more, please share this toolkit widely with your networks, colleagues, friends and family. In addition to this sign-on we encourage your respective organizations to also send your own letters of concern on this issue.
Every single action matters. Our power is in our unity and solidarity.
Sincerely,
Amnesty International Canada
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council
Righting Relations Canada
Rural Refugee Rights Network
Sustainable Human Empowerment (SHE) Associates
The United Church of Canada
Dear allies in the feminist, women’s rights and gender-based violence movement of Canada:
In late August, our tiny but mighty coalition issued an open letter to Prime Minister Carney, Minister Diab, Minister Anand, and Minister Anandasangaree demanding immediate action on Canada’s commitment for the Gaza Family Reunification Program. We have yet to receive a response.
In May 2024, almost 6 months after initially announcing the program capped at 1000 intended arrivals, Canada committed to supporting 5000 family members under the Gaza TRV program. As of July 2025, only 864 Palestinians – all direct relatives of Palestinian hosts in Canada – have made it to Canada. Canadian officials have assisted in less than 2% of program applicants in evacuation, and have used the program to justify intrusive data collection on family members. Applicants have also been forced to endure unreasonable and concerning scrutiny, subjecting families to securitization using policies designed for those deemed threats to national security. This is after those same families have already completed extensive application processes and biometrics requests. We also have confirmed reports of families being separated at evacuation points at the discretion of the Canadian government. The list of concerns and violations is lengthy.
We are now reaching out for your allyship and support through concerted action. You will find a letter for sign on by members of the feminist and gender-based violence movement in Canada here. A sign-on form is at the bottom of the letter.
We ask that you as leaders and points of contact in your respective sector, please immediately mobilize your networks, organizations and sector leaders to sign onto these letters which we will then issue to the Canadian government.
Time is of the essence as the severity of the situation has already seen family members not make it.
Please share within your trusted circles and remind allies and colleagues to sign on by October 9.
For those with folks wanting to do more, please share this toolkit widely with your networks, colleagues, friends and family. In addition to this sign-on we encourage your respective organizations and selves to also send your own letters of concern on this issue.
Every single action matters. Our power is in our unity and solidarity.
Sincerely,
Amnesty International Canada
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council
Righting Relations Canada
Rural Refugee Rights Network
Sustainable Human Empowerment (SHE) Associates
The United Church of Canada
Dear allies in human rights and international law:
In late August, our tiny but mighty coalition issued an open letter to Prime Minister Carney, Minister Diab, Minister Anand, and Minister Anandasangaree demanding immediate action on Canada’s commitment for the Gaza Family Reunification Program. We have yet to receive a response.
In May 2024, almost 6 months after initially announcing the program capped at 1000 intended arrivals, Canada committed to supporting 5000 family members under the Gaza TRV program. As of July 2025, only 864 Palestinians – all direct relatives of Palestinian hosts in Canada – have made it to Canada. Canadian officials have assisted in less than 2% of program applicants in evacuation, and have used the program to justify intrusive data collection on family members. Applicants have also been forced to endure unreasonable and concerning scrutiny, subjecting families to securitization using policies designed for those deemed threats to national security. This is after those same families have already completed extensive application processes and biometrics requests. We also have confirmed reports of families being separated at evacuation points at the discretion of the Canadian government. The list of concerns and violations is lengthy.
We are now reaching out for your allyship and support through concerted action. You will find a letter for sign on by members of the Canadian human rights and international law sector here. A sign-on form is at the bottom of the letter.
We ask that you as leaders and points of contact in your respective sector, please immediately mobilize your networks, organizations and sector leaders to sign onto these letters which we will then issue to the Canadian government.
Time is of the essence as the severity of the situation has already seen family members not make it.
Please share within your trusted circles and remind allies and colleagues to sign on by October 9.
For those with folks wanting to do more, please share this toolkit widely with your networks, colleagues, friends and family. In addition to this sign-on we encourage your respective organizations to also send your own letters of concern on this issue.
Every single action matters. Our power is in our unity and solidarity.
Sincerely,
Amnesty International Canada
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council
Righting Relations Canada
Rural Refugee Rights Network
Sustainable Human Empowerment (SHE) Associates
The United Church of Canada
