No more warnings: Ottawa is taking action on the issue of family reunification, despite offending the Legault government. Radio-Canada's federal immigration minister, Mark Miller, has authorized his officials to exceed immigration limits set by Quebec, creating “a humanitarian drama.”
Ms. It had been months since I had spoken to Fréchette [la ministre de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration du Québec]I beg her to increase the levels for the family reunion category
In an interview Mr. Miller explains.
We're talking about husbands, wives, parents, grandparents, and people waiting unsuccessfully to join their families in Quebec. There is also a humanitarian aspect to this decision!
To me, that's obvious […]. It is a question of social justice.
in front Refusal
of Quebec Connect families quickly
Mr. Miller believes he had It is a moral duty to find a solution
We can read that in a letter he sent to the Quebec representative on Sunday, a copy of which has been obtained by Radio-Canada.
So he chose a harsher method and acted against the will of the province.
I have decided to instruct my Ministry to process permanent residency applications from family reunification applicants who have received a CSQ (Quebec Selection Certificate) issued by your Ministry as of January 31, 2024, equivalent to approximately 20,500 applications.
Mr. Miller writes in his note.
As they have already waited too long to begin their family reunification process in Quebec, these people will receive permanent residency as a priority.
If Quebec continues to issue CSQs to the Family Reunification Division, which will continue to cause a backlog of files, Ottawa promises to process these files and grant applicants permanent residency within the usual timeframe. Even if it surpasses established standards
Legault threatens Minister Miller with the government.
A door artificially low
The decision will certainly bring relief to the many families currently living apart in Quebec.
However, LeGault risks provoking the ire of the government, which is already the subject of a case in the Supreme Court, as it is considered a deadline for family reunification in Quebec. unfair
And also Biased
.
Quebecers wishing to immigrate a foreign-born spouse must wait 34 months, while other Canadians must wait 12 months.
Quebecers wait an average of 50 months to bring in a foreign-born parent or grandparent, compared to just 24 months for other Canadians.
This difference finds its origin in the fact that Quebec has fixed about 10,000 admissions per year in the family reunification unit, which is far from meeting the demand.
Without saying what the ideal number of admissions would be, Minister Miller reiterates that Quebec's current limit is. artificially low
And it must be revised upwards. For him, Quebec will have everything it can get from it.
I continue to believe that this is a humanitarian gain, but also a political gain for Quebec that these people, along with their families, thrive in Quebec.
We have many people threatening to leave Quebec so that husbands, wives, parents and grandparents can join somewhere else.
Mr. Miller recalled.
The Legault government recognizes its deadline for family reunification Important
But he believes that approach to immigration symmetry
.
The current limits were subject to consultation in the National Assembly last September.
