Immigrant family reunification perceived as less contentious than initially believed in related discussions
Rewritten Article:
Over two-thirds (67%) of Quebecers are in favor of limiting the time it takes to bring immigrant families together to 12 months, the Canadian average, as opposed to the current 35 months in Quebec. This was revealed in a study conducted by the firm Léger, commissioned by Quebec United, a support organization for immigrants patiently waiting for their families to join them.
"We were less controversial than we thought," observes Marie-Gervaise Pilon, a teacher and vice-president of Quebec United. The survey was part of a larger examine various issues. Beyond endorsing shorter delays for family reunions, the majority of Quebecers (64%) believe that these reunifications should be a top priority for governments in immigration matters.
"It's reassuring to know that our current state isn't reflective of our home. It's not reflective of the Quebec we love and respect," remarks Ms. Pilon.
In Canada, the waiting period for processing permanent residence applications for a spouse is around 13 months for an immigrant currently abroad and 10 months if they are already in the country. However, in Quebec, these processing times are extended to 26 months and 37 months, respectively.
The considerable delay in processing these applications is unlikely to decrease soon, as Quebec has capped the number of positive responses at 10,400, limiting the number of files officials can handle.
These delays were even longer during the pandemic. Today, Quebec United is aware of the oldest files, which date back to 2022.
Qualms Remain
Despite a high level of agreement on the need to shrink delays, 21% of respondents opted not to answer the question, indicating that the topic isn't well understood.
"The confusion around family reunification arises from the safe third country agreement," explains Marie-Gervaise Pilon. "Asylum claims are not eligible for those coming from the U.S., unless in a few specific cases. One of the most common exceptions is when the person has family members in Canada." Reunifications involving such cases are not included in Quebec's statistics.
The poll's results don't surprise Adèle Garnier, a migration dynamics specialist at Laval University. "It seems reasonable that it shouldn't take four years to see your family again," she says in an interview.
She herself entered the country through family reunification, a process that took only a few months back then. According to her, it's a misconception that immigrants arriving via family reunification burden the host society, as the people sponsoring these immigrants are responsible for their care.
Family reunification isn't a priority for Quebec, she points out, as the government neglects to mention family in the "orientations" of their immigration plan.
"It's heartbreaking to prolong this situation. And according to international law, the family is the fundamental unit of society."
This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.
Suggestions:
A significant snowfall is projected to hit the southern part of the province, with predictions of 20 to 35 centimeters of snowfall.
Students at a Montreal CEGEP are staging a strike to protest what they view as the eviction of their association's offices.
They are also demanding the establishment of a prayer room on campus, a request that has caused some controversy among teachers.
At the Rozon trial, a woman testifies about the violence she endured.
She narrated a consensual sexual encounter that rapidly turned into a nightmare.
- Despite the majority of Quebecers advocating for a reduction in family reunification delays, 21% of respondents showed uncertainty about the topic, possibly due to confusion arising from the safe third country agreement and its impact on asylum claims.
- The ongoing family reunification delays in Quebec, with some cases dating back to 2022, have led to concerns among those awaiting reunification, particularly given the current political landscape and the absence of 'family' in Quebec's immigration plan's 'orientations'.
- Although the government is yet to address family reunification as a top priority in its policy-and-legislation, many immigrants, like migration dynamics specialist Adèle Garnier herself, believe that family reunification should be viewed as a vital aspect of society, as it is the fundamental unit according to international law.
- As the government and policy-makers weigh their options regarding family reunification policies, general-news outlets continue to report on pressing issues such as the projected snowfall in the southern part of the province, student strikes, and ongoing court trials, creating a complex political landscape in Quebec.
