Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, center, announces response measures to the tsunami disaster at a press conference on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa. Also seen in the photo, India’s High Commissioner Shimala Cowsick, right, and Indonesia’s Charge d’Affaires Sadewo Joedo, left. (Photo: Dave Chan-PMO; as it appears on www.india.gc.ca)

Canada has announced that all processing fees will be waived for new applications for permanent resident visas from those affected by tsunami in the South and South East Asian regions.

Prime Minister Paul Martin, making the announcement on Jan. 2, said that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will also waive the Right of Permanent Resident fee for persons who have been and continue to be seriously and personally affected by the disaster, a press release said.

Judy Sgro, minister of CIC, on Jan. 3 outlined actions the department is taking to help Canadian citizens and permanent residents in the wake of the disaster, the release added.

“The government of Canada is committed to doing as much as we can to help reunite close family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have been, and continue to be, seriously and personally affected by the disaster,” she said, according to the release. “Our officials are working around the clock to ensure this.”

CIC is fast-tracking existing applications of Family Class applicants under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act who have been and continue to be “seriously and personally affected” by the disaster and who have immediate family members in Canada.

Priority is being given to spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children. New applications under the Family Class will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

The department will also be considering, on a case-by-case basis, other close family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have been and continue to be seriously and personally affected by the disaster.

However, all medical and security requirements will be respected. Prime Minister Paul Martin said, “This tragedy is beyond measure, beyond comprehension. We are continuing Canada’s commitment to recovery and reconstruction and renewing our pledge to help those most in need...,” the release added.

(Compiled from a press release by Gloria Suhasini)