Canadians across the country protest for the right to reunite their families
Through these protests across the country, these citizens hope to attract the attention of Ottawa so that the government can resolve their situation as a matter of priority.
MONTREAL - A hundred demonstrators gathered on Saturday afternoon in front of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada offices in Montreal, in favor of the reunification of couples and families separated by the slowness of immigration procedures made even more complex by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Across the country, other similar gatherings were taking place in Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver.
"We sent over 40,000 letters to the offices of Justin Trudeau and Minister (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship) Marco Mendicino and we received no response", laments Misha Pelletier who is part of the movement "Families pending family sponsorship in Canada affected by COVID-19".
Across the country, other similar gatherings were taking place in Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver.
"We sent over 40,000 letters to the offices of Justin Trudeau and Minister (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship) Marco Mendicino and we received no response", laments Misha Pelletier who is part of the movement "Families pending family sponsorship in Canada affected by COVID-19".
Through these protests across the country, these citizens hope to attract the attention of Ottawa so that the government can resolve their situation as a matter of priority.
Misha Pelletier recalls that couples and families separated by COVID-19 could be reunited on June 8, but only in cases where the person outside Canada was in a country for which no entry visa was granted. is required, such as the United States or France.
“They forgot about us. We now want them to listen to us to bring in our loved ones. They are not visitors, they are our families ”, pleads the co-organizer of the event.
Misha Pelletier recalls that couples and families separated by COVID-19 could be reunited on June 8, but only in cases where the person outside Canada was in a country for which no entry visa was granted. is required, such as the United States or France.
“They forgot about us. We now want them to listen to us to bring in our loved ones. They are not visitors, they are our families ”, pleads the co-organizer of the event.
For New Democratic Party MP Alexandre Boulerice, this two-tier system creates a new form of discrimination between citizens of rich countries and citizens of developing countries. "It is completely unacceptable in an egalitarian society with liberal values like ours",
criticizes the elected Montrealer.
In front of the energetic crowd, co-organizer Charles Séguin reminded those in attendance why they should not give up. "Fighting for your loved one is certainly the noblest of fights," he told the small crowd, the majority of which wore masks and respected a good physical distance.
According to a document prepared by the group, the activists want to speed up the process of reuniting families and husbands.
The group says that significant delays in processing applications already existed long before the health crisis struck.
To solve the problem, the citizens' group proposes the creation of a “special temporary resident visa” allowing families to come to Canada and stay there until the sponsorship process is completed.
A series of criteria are provided to ensure the safety of the process by including various documentary evidence and by requiring compliance with a health protocol to prevent cases of COVID-19.
This proposal was welcomed by the deputy Alexandre Boulerice who supports their approach as an emergency measure.
“In the short term, it's a good idea, but it's not a long-term solution. We must put more resources in the public service to deal with cases, ”he commented in an interview with The Canadian Press.
A year without her husband
Misha Pelletier met her husband, originally from Tunisia, when he was studying in Quebec, in 2017. After two years of living together, in 2019, the young man was refused permission to remain in Canada.
They first attempted a common-law sponsorship which was refused, and then decided to marry to simplify the process. Despite this, more than a year after sending their request, Immigration Canada still has not responded to the couple.
Other testimonies were shared during the demonstration on Saturday, including that of Lyne Al-Outa. A woman of Lebanese origin who lives in anguish since her husband is still in Lebanon, where a social crisis has just broken out following the deadly tragedy of the explosion in Beirut.
Lyne Al-Outa impatiently awaits the arrival of her husband since she has just given birth to a child in Quebec in the midst of a pandemic. The four-month-old has never met his father.
“A child needs both parents. I'm afraid he doesn't know his father and his tenderness, ”she shared in an emotional account.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation has clearly deteriorated and families feel abandoned by the government.
“The offices are not closed for student visas or work visas, they are closed just for us, family sponsorship.
We are always the last on the priority list, ”says Misha Pelletier.
A petition supporting this approach, launched on the web portal of the House of Commons and sponsored by the member for Vancouver East Jenny Kwan, had collected Saturday morning 4423 signatures.
Double challenge in Quebec
The demonstrators did not fail to point out that their challenge is twofold in Quebec since families must also rub shoulders with the province's immigration ministry. Before continuing the process at the federal level, they must obtain a Quebec selection certificate.
Here again, the deadlines keep getting longer. If the standard provides for a response in less than 25 days, it is not uncommon for several months to wait, deplores the deputy of Quebec solidaire Andrés Fontecilla.
“We cannot blame everything on the pandemic. There is a problem in Quebec, ”he observes.
According to him, everything starts from the reduction of immigration thresholds by the government of the Coalition futur Quebec. Andrés Fontecilla denounces the fact that the CAQ seems to be interested only in economic immigration, while family reunification represents an ideal tool for integrating newcomers.
criticizes the elected Montrealer.
In front of the energetic crowd, co-organizer Charles Séguin reminded those in attendance why they should not give up. "Fighting for your loved one is certainly the noblest of fights," he told the small crowd, the majority of which wore masks and respected a good physical distance.
According to a document prepared by the group, the activists want to speed up the process of reuniting families and husbands.
The group says that significant delays in processing applications already existed long before the health crisis struck.
To solve the problem, the citizens' group proposes the creation of a “special temporary resident visa” allowing families to come to Canada and stay there until the sponsorship process is completed.
A series of criteria are provided to ensure the safety of the process by including various documentary evidence and by requiring compliance with a health protocol to prevent cases of COVID-19.
This proposal was welcomed by the deputy Alexandre Boulerice who supports their approach as an emergency measure.
“In the short term, it's a good idea, but it's not a long-term solution. We must put more resources in the public service to deal with cases, ”he commented in an interview with The Canadian Press.
A year without her husband
Misha Pelletier met her husband, originally from Tunisia, when he was studying in Quebec, in 2017. After two years of living together, in 2019, the young man was refused permission to remain in Canada.
They first attempted a common-law sponsorship which was refused, and then decided to marry to simplify the process. Despite this, more than a year after sending their request, Immigration Canada still has not responded to the couple.
Other testimonies were shared during the demonstration on Saturday, including that of Lyne Al-Outa. A woman of Lebanese origin who lives in anguish since her husband is still in Lebanon, where a social crisis has just broken out following the deadly tragedy of the explosion in Beirut.
Lyne Al-Outa impatiently awaits the arrival of her husband since she has just given birth to a child in Quebec in the midst of a pandemic. The four-month-old has never met his father.
“A child needs both parents. I'm afraid he doesn't know his father and his tenderness, ”she shared in an emotional account.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation has clearly deteriorated and families feel abandoned by the government.
“The offices are not closed for student visas or work visas, they are closed just for us, family sponsorship.
We are always the last on the priority list, ”says Misha Pelletier.
A petition supporting this approach, launched on the web portal of the House of Commons and sponsored by the member for Vancouver East Jenny Kwan, had collected Saturday morning 4423 signatures.
Double challenge in Quebec
The demonstrators did not fail to point out that their challenge is twofold in Quebec since families must also rub shoulders with the province's immigration ministry. Before continuing the process at the federal level, they must obtain a Quebec selection certificate.
Here again, the deadlines keep getting longer. If the standard provides for a response in less than 25 days, it is not uncommon for several months to wait, deplores the deputy of Quebec solidaire Andrés Fontecilla.
“We cannot blame everything on the pandemic. There is a problem in Quebec, ”he observes.
According to him, everything starts from the reduction of immigration thresholds by the government of the Coalition futur Quebec. Andrés Fontecilla denounces the fact that the CAQ seems to be interested only in economic immigration, while family reunification represents an ideal tool for integrating newcomers.
