The Canadian Government has been asked to approve applications filed by Canadians for the immigration into this country of their Jewish relatives in the Soviet Union, even though it is not known whether the Soviet Government would issue the needed exit visas, it was disclosed here today by the Canadian Jewish Congress.
The request was made during a meeting in Ottawa between Jean Marchand, Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and a delegation representing the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Jewish Immigrant Aid Services. The delegation had called on the Minister to discuss projected changes in Canadian immigration policy.
Noting that the difficulties connected with emigration from the USSR were numerous, the delegation pointed out to Mr. Marchand that no attempt could be made to induce the Soviet authorities to grant exit visas to Jewish relatives of Canadian citizens unless there was some evidence that Canada is prepared to admit potential immigrants from Russia.
JEWISH IMMIGRATION UNDER WAY AND PLANNED FROM THREE OTHER AREAS
The delegation, which was headed by Saul Hayes, executive vice-president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, also asked the Minister to seek an end to protracted delays in the processing of immigration applications by Canadian Jews on behalf of relatives from Morocco, who are now in Spain; and for potential immigrants from Rumania, now residing in Italy and awaiting entry approval by the Canadian Government. The Immigration Minis-
The Jewish Immigrant Aid Services also disclosed today that inquiries regarding immigration to Canada have been received during the past few months from some 250 Indian Jews. The JIAS said that most of these Jews seeking to come to Canada are of “satisfactory educational background” and “appear to be desirable immigrants.”
Regarding proposed changes in Canadian immigration policy, the delegation stressed in its meeting with the Minister that “sight should not be lost of the humane quality of Canada as a ‘have’ country with enormous resources, with the corresponding duty to discharge its universal moral obligation which would be substantially hampered if efficiency were to remove those qualities.”
Other members of the delegation included Lavy Becker, Monroe Abbey, Samuel Harvey, Louis Herman and B.J. Goldhar, all of the Canadian Jewish Congress; and Louis Orenstein, George Hollinger and Dr. Joseph Kage, for the Jewish Immigrant Aid Services.
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