Winnipeg woman blasts Canada's ban on West African visas

A Winnipeg woman says the chance to bring her family to Canada is now up in the air after the government closed its doors to people from West African countries battling Ebola.

Zita Somokoko, who is originally from Guinea, a country now affected by Ebola, has been working for five years to bring her 19-year old daughter to Canada.

All of that has now come to a screeching halt.

"It is all up in the air," she said about her efforts.

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In a move that puts Canada at odds with the World Health Organization, the federal government announced last week it immediately suspended the issuance of visas for residents and nationals of countries with "widespread and persistent-intense transmission" of Ebola virus disease.

As well, work on permanent residence applications for people from the affected countries is also being suspended.

Somokoko, who has been living in Winnipeg since 2007, said blocking entry to Canada is doing more harm than good for Africa, causing more fear and stigma. She compares the Ebola reaction to the SARS outbreak in 2003.

"Asia was not quarantined, planes were still travelling back and forth from Asia. Why this stigma about Ebola and the continent of Africa?" Somokoko asked.

The World Health Organization's position is that borders should remain open to those from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.