When Taliban militants moved into Kabul, Abdul Basir Talash and his family were among the lucky ones who were able to flee. They came to Canada 10 months ago with simple and honest expectations.
“We are here to work hard and pay taxes like any other taxpayer in this country, to make this country part of our family,” says the father of six.
CTV National News recently shared how the Talash family has been living in a refugee hotel west of Toronto, without access to hotel amenities. They are also prohibited from sitting in the dining room with other paying hotel guests.
Since their refugee forms have not yet been approved by the Canadian government, they cannot work, rent a house or go to school.
The visibly frustrated father tells CTV National News, “Everybody is pushing Afghanistan to let girls go to school and let them study, my kids in Canada can’t go to school for the last 10 months. What kind of rules, what kind of system is this?
After CTV National News broke their story, the Talash family was told they would be moved to temporary housing while they await news of their asylum application from the federal government.
An organization contracted by the federal government, called Polycultural, receives a payment to help resettle refugees. The Talash family was shown a row house in Mississauga. Polycultural would sign for the rent at a cost of $4,500 a month in taxpayer dollars.
CTV National News found other row houses in the same area renting for $1,500 less. To the Talash family, the house seemed dilapidated and expensive.
Talash and his family of eight found several larger single-family homes in the same area for $1,000 cheaper than smaller townhouses.
“I told them they don’t need to rent that for my family, they can rent me a house that is a low house,” says Talash. He says he showed several Polycultural listings that would save taxpayers at least $12,000 a year.
He remembers that the Policultural staff told him: “You stay in the hotel or you are going to stay in the house that we offered you.” The Talash family refused to move into the house and are back at the hotel, which is not where they want to be.
A refugee advocate poses the question: why would a company using taxpayers’ money refuse to lease a cheaper and more suitable house to a family that has been waiting nearly a year for refugee status clarification?
“It raises red flags,” says Mona Elshayal, a refugee advocate.
Polycultural CEO Marwan Ismail told CTV National News by phone that the organization “requested” to rent the least expensive houses the Talash family found on their own, but that “the owners refused to do so because they don’t have any.” . entry.”
However, Elshayal believes the organization’s claim is nonsense.
“Family income shouldn’t even be a factor, since Polycultural is the one who signs and pays for the rental property with government money,” says the long-time refugee worker.
CTV National News also spoke with two real estate agents who are renting some of the cheaper listings that the Talash family says they presented to Polycultural as options. Agents said they don’t recall ever receiving a call from Polycultural or one of the organization’s agents.
Elshayal believes that “Canadian taxpayers should be amazed, because it seems that the funds are being wasted.”
For several days this week, CTV National News requested an interview with federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser. His office said he was not available for a 10-minute interview because he was out of town. The minister’s social media pages place him at the Calgary Stampede, where several photos of the minister with Canadian immigrants were posted.
Fraser’s office was asked by CTV National News why PolyCultural is renting townhomes for $4,500 a month when there are clearly larger single-family homes in the same area on the market for $3,500.
A spokesperson responded, but did not answer our question directly, saying in part: “Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not deny any rental opportunity presented to any family, IRCC encourages families to seek the most affordable option. affordable. to satisfy your needs.”
According to the Talash family, the opposite is happening. CTV National News also asked Fraser’s office if any government oversight of refugee organizations is taking place.
Minister Fraser’s spokesman responded, writing, “IRCC staff carry out regular on-site activity and financial monitoring of all resettlement service providers. This is done to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively while welcoming new arrivals and refugees to Canada.”
Although Talash, who has been living in a hotel where PolyCultural staff provide care to refugees, believes government accountability is falling short and refugees, as well as taxpayers across the country, do not understand the full history.
“The taxpayer should ask the government if the money going out of their pockets to these (organizations) is being spent properly.” Talash says.
Suspected Taliban militants on the streets of Kabul killed one of Abdul Basir Talash’s daughters. He believes it was a targeted attack because one of his other daughters worked as a journalist in Kabul. He believes his family is now being punished for talking to the media here in Canada.
“One hundred percent I have been punished for the last 10 months because I have been talking to the media. They told me that if I keep talking to the media, my documents will be delayed even more.”
The Talash family signed a consent form, allowing the federal government to share an update on their refugee status with CTV National News, though the government has declined to provide details.
The Talash family will soon enter their eleventh month stranded in a hotel. As for the puzzling price of that $4,500 row house west of Toronto, one realtor says Polycultural rented it out anyway.