A well-established French family in Quebec faces deportation in the face of federal bureaucracy as the Legault and Trudeau governments seek to attract more French-speaking immigrants.
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Arriving two years ago, Aurélie Martin and Flavien Di Virgilio are desperate. The dream of this couple and their three children turns into a nightmare.
Immigration Canada just denied the extension of her open work permit.
They have 90 days to resolve their situation and attempt to obtain alternate status, otherwise they must leave Quebec soil.
But the processing times make the task practically impossible, especially since they no longer have a work permit and are therefore without an income.
“They want people who speak good French, who fit in, who spend their money here, so why make it so difficult for us? […] We’re just a number, we’re not treated like people,” complains the mother, who experienced this refusal as a “devastating blow”.
“Our bosses want to keep us”
Until last Friday, she was the manager of a grocery store in Greenfield Park while her husband worked at Héma-Québec.
Her three daughters, aged nine, eleven and thirteen, are well integrated into their community and do not want to return to France.
“Our bosses are trying to find solutions because both of our bosses want to keep us,” insists Ms. Martin.
She would have liked to hire an attorney to help her on her crusade to get another work permit from Immigration Canada, but she was forced to stop working abruptly last Friday when she received the unfavorable opinion. Now without a salary, the couple cannot afford it.
Aurélie Martin doesn’t understand Immigration Canada’s decision. However, she had rushed by submitting her application for an extension in August, four months before her work permit expired.
She followed the instructions on the federal government’s website to the letter. It is impossible to speak to a Ministry agent verbally.
“Agent M”
“You have not demonstrated that you are eligible to apply for an open work permit under immigration and refugee protection regulations. Your prospective employer is responsible for obtaining a valid Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and endorsement from Employment and Social Development Canada,” said the federal document, signed by “Officer M” of the Case Processing Center in Edmonton.
“If you do not wish to apply for reinstatement, you must leave Canada immediately or enforcement action may be taken against you,” the notice concludes.
But the processing times for LMIA applications make the success of the Martin-Di Virgilio family’s efforts all but unlikely.
“It doesn’t seem feasible at all to me, these are crazy delays, they’re asking three to six months for an LMIA, how do you expect it to be resolved in 90 days? And without working, because suddenly we have no income! »
Stuck in the wheels
Because the small family immigrated to Quebec in the middle of a pandemic, the couple was unable to start work as planned upon arrival.
They have therefore not yet fully accumulated the 24 months of employability that would qualify them for the Quebec Selection Certificate, a requirement for applying for permanent residency.
They are missing a few weeks that they cannot complete within 90 days because they had to stop their work immediately at the request of the federal government.
“It seems we get in each other’s way all the time. We pay our bills, we pay our taxes. We’re not billionaires, we’re Lambda, a normal couple, we don’t want free travel either, but we tell ourselves it’s not fair what’s happening to us, the mother regrets. We are an ordinary French family just waiting to work and live in Quebec! »
Excerpts from Immigration Canada’s decision
“Based on your application and the evidence you submitted, I have carefully checked all the information and have come to the conclusion that you do not meet the requirements of the protection of foreigners and refugees and its implementing regulations. Your application was rejected as submitted. »
“You have not demonstrated that you are eligible to apply for an open work permit under immigration and refugee protection regulations. Your prospective employer is responsible for obtaining a valid labor market assessment and endorsement from Employment and Social Development Canada. »
“You do not have temporary residency status in Canada. If you do not wish to seek reinstatement, you must leave Canada immediately or enforcement action may be taken against you. »
Heartfelt,
agent m
Edmonton case processing center
Letter from Aurélie Martin
The letter from Immigration Canada to Ms. Martin.
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