Travel visas fast-tracked

The federal government is prioritizing temporary travel visas for people seeking to attend the International AIDS Conference in Montreal at the end of July.

But the conference begins in two weeks and hundreds of people hoping to attend are still in limbo about their travel plans. Many others, mostly from Africa, Asia and South America, already had their visa requests rejected, including some who received scholarships partially funded by the federal government in order to attend.

A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in an emailed statement to The Canadian Press that overseas visa offices were recently sent lists of attendees to the conference and told to put their applications to the top of the pile for processing.

“(Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) has taken every measure available to expedite the applications as quickly as possible and facilitate travel for this event,” said Aidan Strickland.

Almost three weeks ago, Fraser received a letter signed by more than 250 Canadian and international humanitarian organizations heavily critical of Canada’s visa process and demanding he intervene. The letter said at least 400 delegates were still waiting for a visa.

Tian Johnson, founder of the African Alliance, a health rights organization, slammed Canada in a recent statement, calling it “truly vile” that Canada had bid to host the conference, offered millions of dollars to make it happen, and then prevented the voices of those affected most by HIV/AIDS from participating.