QUESTION PERIOD — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Immigration to Quebec
December 5, 2023
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
Senator Gold, I was happy to see the November 17 update to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website, which included information about its new sponsorship program. The update looks like a response to the question I asked here on October 31.
However, according to a December 2 article on the CBC website, people of Haitian, Colombian or Venezuelan origin will have to reside outside Quebec to be eligible to apply under the new family reunification program.
Given that 87% of the people in Canada’s Haitian diaspora live in Quebec and speak French, what steps will the federal government take to get Quebec to open its doors to the urgent needs of these people?
Thank you for the question. As a Montrealer, I’m very aware of the size and presence of the Haitian diaspora in Quebec and the contributions the community has made and continues to make.
I will do some digging to better understand the issue you raised in your question.
I’d like to follow that answer up with a supplementary question.
If Quebec refuses to change its policy, can the federal government change its family reunification program into a refugee program?
Thank you for that supplementary question. Again, I’ll have to talk to the minister responsible, and I promise to do that.
