The Turmoil in Iran

My heart is heavy with the scenes emerging from Iran and the cries for help and support from the Iranian people. The world has once again taken notice of the turmoil in Iran and the thirst the people have for basic freedoms that we too often take for granted in Canada.

I was born and raised in Iran. After the revolution in 1979, my family fled a repressive regime and settled in Europe. As a young man more that 22 years ago, I came to Canada on my own to seek the freedom and entrepreneurial opportunity that I so craved. I have been a job creator and taxpayer since being blessed by the warm welcome I received in Canada. I met the woman who later became my wife here. Today, we have a young daughter and we are all very proud Canadians.

The Iranian community has been and continues to be a vibrant, dynamic, and fully contributing part of Canadian society. We are highly educated and entrepreneurial. As we speak, many Iranians have applied and are in line waiting to come to Canada through regular immigration programs.

I want to add my voice to countless others that are urging the Government of Canada to re-double efforts to facilitate the timely processing of applications for entry into Canada from Iran. These are not people that want to be classified as refugees, nor do they seek handouts from the Canadian taxpayer. They only want what my wife and I were granted: the opportunity to become full-fledged and self-sufficient members of the Canadian community, and responsible and contributing citizens of this great country.

The Iranian people are once again at an inflection point. They want to come to Canada and Canada needs their skill, expertise, work ethic, and respect for basic human rights, democracy and the rule of law. I urge Prime Minister Trudeau and all parliamentarians to take the immediate decisive action to process applications from Iran on an expedited and urgent basis. Recent history suggests that this is the right thing to do for Canada, and the decent thing to do for people desperate for freedom. Our shared values as Canadians demand nothing less.

Hossein Amirahmadi
President and CEO