Canadian Immigration Minister meets families from Operation Stork

Operation Stork brought 203 Haitian children to Canada in the weeks following last year’s devastating earthquake, uniting them with their adoptive parents.

“This was a truly monumental task,” said Minister Kenney.

“In just six weeks, Canadian and provincial officials processed as many adoptions from Haiti as are normally done in two years.”

Out of the 203 children, 152 have since become either permanent residents or citizens of Canada and the Canadian Immigration department will continue to work with the parents of the remaining children until everyone’s status is finalized.

The Minister took the opportunity to thank some of the partners who lent their help and support throughout Operation Stork.

“I would like to thank Air Canada and Air Transat, the Department of National Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, staff and officials at the Ottawa airport, the Red Cross and Salvation Army, the Ottawa Paramedic Service, the volunteer doctors and nurses from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and all the CIC and Canada Border Services Agency officials who helped staff the Canada Reception Centre at Hangar 11. This was truly a combined effort where everyone worked together, motivated by the same common goal.”

"The work is far from over in Haiti,” said Minister Kenney, “and my department remains committed to helping to reunite families affected by this tragedy as quickly as possible.”

The Canadian Immigration department has reunited over 2,500 families since the earthquake, approved over 3,600 permanent resident applications, and granted permission for temporary entry to over 3,000 Haitians affected by the tragedy.

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