Seminar with Michael Ma MP addresses Hong Kong Pathway issues

Last Saturday, Hong Kong Watch Canada was pleased to co-host an insightful seminar featuring Michael Ma, Member of Parliament for Markham—Unionville and Member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, who met with Hong Kongers in Calgary to address the ongoing backlog of Hong Kong Pathway applications.

The event was held in collaboration with the Hong Kong Pathway Alliance and YouTuber CanMen. It attracted approximately 80 in-person participants and around 500 viewers as CanMen moderated and live-streamed the discussion on YouTube.

We heard from Hong Kong Pathway applicants facing significant challenges, including ineffective communication with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) staff that has delayed the processing of documents and led to refusals, and ambiguity around the maintained status letter that has created confusion for employers and registries. In addition, employment difficulties, unapproved study permits that have hindered children’s education, and excessively long waiting times have further exacerbated the situation.

In response, Michael Ma MP has committed to addressing the issues surrounding maintained status to ensure access to healthcare, employment, and registry services. He encouraged applicants to seek assistance from their local MPs regarding application updates, and assured them that he would present these issues to the Immigration Committee as Parliament reconvenes in mid-September.

At the end of the event, Hong Kong Watch Canada collected urgent permanent residency cases for fast-tracking and optional open work permit (OOWP) rejections for restoration.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Michael Ma MP for his commitment to understanding the concerns of the Hong Kong community in Canada. We also send our thanks to CanMen for moderating and live-streaming the event, and to the Hong Kong Pathway Alliance for co-hosting this important discussion.

Michael Ma MP主講「Hong Kong Pathway」研討會 承諾向移民委員會提出積壓問題

上星期六，加拿大香港監察在卡加利合辦「Hong Kong Pathway」研討會，Markham—Unionville選區國會議員、公民及移民常務委員會委員Michael Ma到場與香港人見面，了解「Hong Kong Pathway」申請持續積壓問題。

我們與港人團體「香港通道聯盟 Hong Kong Pathway Alliance」和YouTuber「住加男人 CanMen」合作舉辦今次活動。活動由CanMen擔任主持並在YouTube直播討論，吸引到約80名現場參加者和約500名網上觀眾。

「Hong Kong Pathway」申請人反映他們現時面對的種種挑戰，包括與加拿大移民部職員溝通不順，導致文件處理延誤，最終申請被拒絕；維持身分（maintained status）信件含糊不清，令僱主和登記處感到困惑。除此之外，就業困難、學生簽證不獲批准阻礙子女教育，以及等待時間過長，亦令情況更加惡化。

因應上述挑戰，Michael Ma MP承諾應對有關維持身分的問題，確保申請人能夠獲得醫療保健、就業和登記服務。他鼓勵申請人向所屬選區的國會議員求助，了解申請的最新進展，並表示會在9月中旬國會復會時，向移民委員會提出相關問題。

活動尾聲時，加拿大香港監察收集緊急永久居留申請個案和可選開放式工作簽證（OOWP）申請被拒絕個案，分別要求快速處理和恢復申請。

香港監察衷心感謝Michael Ma MP致力理解加拿大港人社群的憂慮。我們亦感謝CanMen主持並直播今次活動，同時感謝「香港通道聯盟 Hong Kong Pathway Alliance」合辦這場重要討論。