New requests to sponsor Syrian refugees suspended
The Couillard government will temporarily suspend new requests for families to sponsor refugees because of a backlog in requests related to the war in Syria.
Quebec Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil announced the decision Monday in a statement, informing Quebecers the suspension is effective as of Jan. 27.
The province is processing more than 10,000 requests — including 7,500 from Quebec families sponsoring Syrian refugees. The province’s immigration plan calls for Quebec to admit between 4,050 and 4,400 sponsored refugees this year. A request submitted this year would be backlogged until 2019, according to to the provincial government.
“All of the demands made up until Jan. 26 will be processed,” Weil said in a statement. “We will continue to respect our humanitarian engagement by welcoming refugees of all origins.”
An advocate for families seeking refuge in Canada said he’s saddened by Monday’s announcement.
“The refugee program is one of the few ways people can be reunited with their families and receive Canada’s protection,” said Paul Clarke, the executive director of Action réfugiés Montréal. “The outpouring of generosity from Quebecers over the past few months has been incredible. Hopefully this is a temporary suspension and we’ll see it back up and running soon.”
Clarke said his organization has a waiting list of more than 900 cases waiting to be sent to the federal government.
“I’m not sure what will happen to these people,” he said. “It’s life and death for some of them. Whatever happens, I hope the program comes back in a way that’s sustainable in the long run. This is a program where other countries come to us and ask us how we export this wonderful thing.
“Even if there’s a huge waiting list — and in some cases people have to wait up to five years in a refugee camp — the idea that they might come to Canada gives people hope. We want to keep that hope alive.”
Last month, the Trudeau government said it will limit new refugee admissions to those sponsored privately because of delays in the public system. Quebec welcomed 7,431 Syrian refugees in 2015-2016.