Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - September 2010
A new report has found that Quebec�s plan to reunify Haitian families after the devastating earthquake has run into major bureaucratic red tape.
The report, compiled by the Montreal chapter of the human rights organization Rights and Democracy, argues that despite the province�s promises to fast-track family sponsorship applications in wake of the January earthquake, little progress has actually been made toward reaching this goal and thousands of migrants are still waiting to find out their fate.
"Refugees are in an impasse. There have been family reunifications but nowhere near the level promised by the government," said report author Mylene Dorce, who is a doctoral student at the University of Montreal.
During the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, government officials at both the provincial and federal levels came forward to announce support plans for Canadian-Haitian�s who were concerned about their loved ones.
In Quebec, where the majority of Haitian-Canadians settle, there was strong talk all the way up to last June of �fast-tracking� sponsorship cases. Approximately 900 applications were accepted by Quebec, but needed to obtain final approval from Ottawa.
According to the report, most of those cases are still waiting for that final approval and the system is currently �blocked.�
Source: Montreal Gazette
