A plea for common sense

Eddy Merx is preparing for the worst because he says, “I don’t know if the government can do anything at all.” It’s a sad commentary when the expected answer from our government and its bureaucrats is ‘no’ to sensible and legitimate petitions and requests from its citizens.

Why can’t we expect — or demand — that government do the right thing in this and other similar cases? Why do we expect the federal government to take the easy way out and deny a compassionate plea in this case?

The Abram-Village man and his five children must gain permanent residency status by Feb. 25 or be deported to Germany. Red tape, indifference and bureaucracy are working against them. There is a long list of reasons why an exception should be made in this case. But rules and checklists make things comfortable for bureaucrats who rarely take into consideration the realities of the situation.

The government is sending extra officials to refugee camps and fast-tracking applications and background checks to accommodate Syrians because of the urgency of the situation and to fulfil an election promise. There is no reason why the rules can’t be amended to assist the Merx family.

It’s silly to expect a father to uproot his five children and move them back to Germany just so he apply to come to P.E.I. What a waste of time and money to make this tremendous personal sacrifice. And then there is no guarantee of a favourable decision or even when a decision will be made.

The Merx family and the community of AbramVillage have done everything possible on their end. It will come down to a political decision and it’s time for Immigration Minister John MacCallum to make the right choice and let some of those ‘sunny ways’ shine in Abram-Village for the Merx family.