When vulnerable refugees arrive in Canada, they carry the weight of war and persecution with them. Arriving in a new country, they place their trust and safety in the hands of the Canadian government and organizations hired by Ottawa to help them resettle and navigate their new home.
An investigation by CTV National News has found that a Toronto-area refugee organization has sent unsuspecting families out to find their first home with a real estate agent who is currently living in exile. Faced with allegations of sexual assault.
Ghassan Alsouki, who also works as a driving instructor, was accused of sexual assault by a female student in January. His criminal case is still before the court.
A recent story by CTV National News, tells about Abdul Basir Talash, a father of six children. The family fled Kabul to Canada 10 months ago. They have been living in what some have called a refugee “ghost hotel” west of Toronto for nearly a year. After we made their story public, they were told they would be moved out of the hotel and into their home pending confirmation of their long overdue refugee status.
When it comes to expecting to be placed in a safe situation, Talash told CTV National News: “Every family that comes to Canada, not just my family, they expect it.”
However, an organization hired by the Trudeau government, called Polycultural, which was paid to help resettle hundreds of refugees in Ontario, connected the Talash family and many other refugee families with Alsouki, while he faces criminal charges.
Refugee advocate Mona Elshayal says she is “shocked” that “vulnerable” members of our community are being placed in this situation.
“How are they (Multicultural) not being checked by the police who have direct access outside the hotel, in the house?”
Alsouki’s criminal charges have been reported before, although when Marwan Ismail, executive director of Polycultural spoke to CTV National News, he said he and his staff had no say on the matter. allegation of sexual assault.
“No. No way. We didn’t know about this,” Ismail told CTV National News by phone.
Now, the organization says Alsouki will no longer send refugee families to look after their homes.
Talash, who has yet to find a suitable home for his family, said the federal government is neglecting to oversee the operations of refugee and immigration service companies, who have been awarded large contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“Multiculturalism should be stopped and terminated immediately or this contract should be given to any other organization,” Talash said.
CTV National News spoke to Alsouki by phone. He said he did not believe he informed Polycultural of his alleged sexual assault. He also said he hasn’t taken any refugees out recently, although Talash’s family say he personally drove them to see the home just two weeks ago.
CTV National News requested a camera interview with Canada’s Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, but we were told he was unavailable. Our request for written answers to many of our questions was not provided prior to our deadline.
