As Taliban militants moved into Kabul, Abdul Basir Talash and his family were among the lucky ones able to flee. They arrived in Canada 10 months ago with simple and honest expectations.
“We are here to work hard and pay taxes like all other taxpayers in this country, to make this country part of our family,” says the father of six.
Recently, CTV National News reported how the Talash family lived in a refugee hotel west of Toronto, with no access to hotel amenities. They are also prohibited from sitting in the dining room with other paying hotel guests.
Their refugee forms still not being approved by the Canadian government, they cannot work, rent a house or go to school.
The visibly frustrated father tells CTV National News: “The whole world is pressuring Afghanistan to let the girls go to school and let them study, my children in Canada have not been able to go to school for 10 months. What kind of rules, what kind of system is it? »
After CTV National News made their story public, the Talash family was told they would be moved to a temporary home pending their federal asylum claim.
A federally hired organization called Polycultural is paid to help resettle refugees. The Talash family were shown a semi-detached house in Mississauga. Polycultural would sign for the lease at a cost of $4,500 per month in taxpayer dollars.
CTV National News found other semi-detached homes in the same neighborhood to rent for $1,500 less. To the Talash family, the house seemed dilapidated and overpriced.
Talash and his family of eight found several larger single-family homes in the same neighborhood for $1,000 less than the smaller semi-detached houses.
“I told them they don’t need to rent this for my family, they can rent me a house that is a lower house,” Talash says. He says he showed multiple polycultural listings that would save taxpayers at least $12,000 a year.
He remembers that the Polycultural staff told him: “You stay at the hotel or you are going to stay in the house that was offered to you. The Talash family refused to move into the house and they are back at the hotel, which is not where they want to be.
A refugee advocate asks the question: Why would a company using taxpayers’ money refuse to rent a cheaper, more suitable home to a family who have been waiting for nearly a year for clarification on their refugee status?
“It raises red flags,” says refugee lawyer Mona Elshayal.
Polycultural executive director Marwan Ismail told CTV National News over the phone that the organization had “asked” to rent the cheapest homes the Talash family had found on their own, but had been ” refused by the owners because they did not have any”. Income.”
However, Elshayal believes the organization’s claim makes no sense.
“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 longtime refugee worker.
CTV National News also spoke with two real estate agents who rent out some of the cheaper listings the Talash family says they put up as options at Polycultural. Officers said they did not recall ever receiving a call from Polycultural or any of the organization’s officers.
Elshayal believes that “Canadian taxpayers should frown because it looks like money is wasted.”
For several days this week, CTV National News requested an interview with federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser. His office said he was unavailable for a 10-minute interview as he was traveling. The minister’s social media pages place him at the Calgary Stampede, where several photos have been posted of the minister with Canadian immigrants.
CTV National News asked Fraser’s office why is PolyCultural renting semi-detached homes for $4,500 a month when there are clearly larger detached homes in the same area on the market for $3,500?
A spokesperson answered, but did not directly answer our question, saying in part: “Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not turn down any rental opportunity that presents itself to a family, IRCC encourages families to look for the most affordable option. to meet their 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 was underway.
Minister Fraser’s spokesperson responded, writing: “IRCC staff regularly conduct on-site activities and financial monitoring of all resettlement service providers. This is done to ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively and efficiently while welcoming newcomers and refugees to Canada.
Although Talash, who lives in a hotel where PolyCultural staff provide care for refugees, thinks the government’s accountability is insufficient and refugees, as well as taxpayers across the country, don’t understand the whole story.
“The taxpayer should ask the government if the money that goes out of your pockets to these (organizations) is being properly spent?” Talash said.
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 was working 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’ve been punished for the past 10 months because I spoke with the media. I was told that if I continued to speak to the media, my documents would be further delayed.
The Talash family signed a consent form, allowing the federal government to share an update on their refugee status with CTV National News, although the government declined to provide details.
The Talash family will soon enter their 11th month stranded in a hotel. As for the confusing price of this $4,500 semi-detached house west of Toronto, a real estate agent says it was rented by Polycultural anyway.