CALGARY- A family in Canmore is appealing to the Canadian government to help bring their children home.
Earlier this year, the Mahons adopted two children, twins, from Sierra Leone, but just as the adoption was finalized, the Ebola outbreak began.
“We went through the normal processes to get a passport from Sierra Leone,” said Stefan Mahon “Then once Ebola hit that option went out the door.”
The Mahons were left with only photos of Grace and Leo and they appealed to the Canadian government to intervene… Citizenship and Immigration Canada agreed to help but there was more red tape, and then came another blow.
Last week the Harper government stopped processing visas from Sierra Leone and two other African countries battling Ebola, Guinea and Liberia
“When we heard the border’s closed… my daughter’s reaction was she just started crying,” said Kayt Mahon. “She said this is going to take more time isn’t it?”
In a statement last week, Citizenship and Immigration Canada said:
“Discretion will remain for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to grant entry on a case-by-case basis in exceptional cases where travel is essential and in Canada’s interest.”
The Mahons hope their twins will become an exception and the couple is appealing to Ottawa one more time to let their children come home.
“I think at this point CIC needs to step up to the plate,” Stafan Mahon told Global News. “ I think they need to grant these travel documents; this is an exceptional circumstance.
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