After continuous efforts to urge the Quebec government to expand its capacity for family reunification, Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller has declared that it’s time for federal intervention.
Miller asserts that his ministry will begin granting permanent residence permits to individuals seeking to reunite with their families in Quebec, irrespective of the province’s self-imposed limitations on applicants, which he deems “unjustifiably low.”
“We’re addressing individuals who are spouses, parents, grandparents, eagerly waiting to reunite with their families in Quebec,” Miller emphasized in an interview with Radio-Canada, characterizing the backlog as a humanitarian crisis. “To me, it’s an issue of social equity.”
Quebec’s family reunification quota is capped at roughly 10,000 applicants annually, a number that significantly lags behind the demand.
Miller revealed that he has been persistently urging Quebec Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette for months to raise the cap and facilitate more entries into the province, but he has now grown weary of waiting.
In a letter dispatched to Fréchette on Sunday, obtained by Radio-Canada, Miller underscored his “moral obligation to find a resolution” to Quebec’s sluggishness in reuniting families.
He has instructed his ministry to commence processing all applications for permanent residency from family reunification petitioners who have received the requisite documentation from Quebec, the letter outlines.
Miller estimated this to encompass approximately 20,500 applications as of January 31, 2024.
Should the backlog persist, Miller asserted that his ministry will continue granting permanent residence to applicants within standard timeframes, “even if it means surpassing the levels set by the [François] Legault government.”
This move by Ottawa could potentially escalate tensions with the Coalition Avenir Québec government, which is already entangled in a Superior Court lawsuit over delays in family reunification.
Maxime Lapointe, the lawyer spearheading the lawsuit against Fréchette, expressed his intent to withdraw the suit if Ottawa proceeds with its plan.
Presently, spousal sponsorship applicants in Quebec encounter a processing period of roughly 34 months to bring their loved ones from abroad, compared to 12 months for other Canadians.
For a parent or grandparent of foreign origin, the wait extends to about 50 months, in contrast to the average of 24 months for other Canadians.
This discrepancy is partly attributed to Quebec’s annual cap on applicants.
Miller refrained from specifying the ideal admission numbers but underscored that Quebec would benefit from raising the threshold.
“I still believe it’s a humanitarian gain, but also a political gain for Quebec to welcome these individuals to reunite with their families and thrive in Quebec,” he remarked.
“We have many individuals considering leaving Quebec so that their spouses, parents, and grandparents can join them elsewhere.”
Responding to the development on Monday morning, Fréchette’s office denounced Miller’s directive as a “direct infringement on Quebec’s jurisdiction.”
“Quebec alone determines its permanent immigration targets. The federal government’s approach does not respect the will of the Quebec nation. It is unacceptable,” stated Maude Méthot-Faniel, Fréchette’s press secretary, in a statement to Radio-Canada.
Méthot-Faniel acknowledged the significant delays in family reunification but asserted that Quebec’s immigration strategy is “balanced” and emphasized that it’s not Ottawa’s prerogative to impose thresholds on the province.
She indicated that the government is mindful of the predicament faced by these families and affirmed ongoing efforts to explore potential solutions.
An initial meeting with the Québec Réunifié collective, advocating for the reunification of Quebec families, was held in December to explore viable arrangements “respecting the prerogatives of the Quebec government.”
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, immigration critic for the Bloc Québécois, characterized the federal government’s move as an encroachment on Quebec’s jurisdiction.
“Instead of meddling in matters outside its purview, Ottawa should focus on its own responsibilities, starting by transferring to Quebec the funds associated with receiving asylum seekers,” Brunelle-Duceppe remarked, alluding to the $1 billion Quebec has requested Ottawa to reimburse.
Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, immigration critic for Québec Solidaire, contended that both levels of government are engaged in political maneuvers while genuine families endure hardships.
He implored Quebec to reconsider the threshold for family reunification applicants but stressed that it’s not within Ottawa’s domain to impose such measures.
