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OTTAWA — Canada will not offer a temporary resettlement program for people fleeing Lebanon, as it did for Gaza and Ukraine, because the government’s focus must remain on Canadian citizens, Immigration Minister Marc Miller says. Miller was testifying about the government’s immigration plan before the House immigration committee on Monday when his fellow Liberal MP Salma Zahid asked about Lebanon. “I have one constituent who within days lost his brother, his wife and three children in one Israeli bombing,” Zahid said. Canada had a program that allowed nearly 300,000 Ukrainians to come here on a temporary basis while the war in Ukraine continues. The government offered a similar, but much smaller program for Gaza residents with family connections in Canada. That program was capped at 5,000 applicants, with approximately 250 people actually travelling here. Zahid said she has a large Lebanese community in her Scarborough riding, and its members want to know why they are being left out. “The community is beside themselves with anger and grief. They see the help we have provided to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. They see the program to bring the extended family of Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Gaza to Canada for temporary safety,” she said. “Will you commit to doing the same for the extended families of Lebanese Canadians?” Miller said he also has a large Lebanese population in his riding and has heard the same concerns, but that Canada can’t open up a program for non-citizens while there are still many Canadians and permanent residents in Lebanon who could need help to flee. “Our focus needs to remain on them and the resources necessary to evacuate them should the situation get worse,” Miller said. Israel has bombed Lebanon during its campaign against the militant group Hezbollah, and the country’s health ministry has reported more than 3,000 people have been killed. The Canadian government has issued an advisory warning against any travel to Lebanon, and has encouraged Canadians who are there to leave while commercial flights are still available. While the government has flown out hundreds of Canadians on special flights, Global Affairs estimates there are between 40,000 and 75,000 Canadians living in Lebanon. Miller said the government continues to encourage those people to leave, but for now it has to focus its efforts on Canadian citizens and permanent residents. He said he hopes there is an end to the conflict soon. “I think everyone would agree that the best way to ensure their safety is to make sure there’s a ceasefire,” he said.'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all-time highNone