The debate on immigration in Quebec and Canada is marked by a growing divide in political discourse which affects not only family reunification, but also the perception towards asylum seekers. While humanitarian immigration should be guided by principles of compassion and solidarity, it is more than ever being misused to serve political objectives.
When politics separates families
The situation with delays in processing applications for family reunification in Quebec has become worrying. The statistics reveal a striking gap: applicants in Quebec wait an average of 35 months, while in other provinces the wait is 10 months for applications related to spouses living abroad. Quebec stood out by being the only province to impose an annual threshold of 10,600 people obtaining permanent residence for family reunification, which makes the queue heavier.
As paralegals in an immigration firm, we observe daily the detrimental effects of these policies on processing times and on the applicants themselves. This slowness has serious psychological consequences, including a high rate of depression and anxiety, according to a survey conducted by Québec Reunified dating from April 2024. We are at the forefront in observing the impacts on these individuals.
Faced with this challenge, Quebec has not strengthened its capacity to process files. Instead, it reduced the number of accepted applications to 13,000 over two years, leaving families in an even more precarious situation. In addition, this measure does not resolve the problem of the almost 40,000 files already pending as of December 6, 2023.
Are asylum seekers a “burden”?
An asylum seeker is a person who is awaiting a decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Processing asylum applications is a federal responsibility, but it is the provinces that manage the integration of people. Certain political statements, often simplified to address partisan or electoral concerns, can reinforce the stigmatization of applicants and downplay the importance of Canada’s humanitarian commitment.
We can think in particular of the recent remarks of Prime Minister Legault concerning the creation of waiting zones, a transitional phase before their compulsory transfer to other provinces. This simplistic proposal reflects a lack of understanding of their vulnerability and the integration challenges they face.
Indeed, it is crucial to remember that Canada cannot, legally or morally, control the quantity of people seeking refuge on its territory. As a state party to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Canada has an obligation to accommodate and assess each asylum application submitted. Restricting their numbers is not an option, as these applicants are protected by principles of international law that guarantee them the possibility of seeking refuge in the event of persecution. These are men, women and children who flee their country in search of safety.
This obligation to protect is fundamental, and seeking to limit the number of asylum seekers or to consider them solely as a burden ignores not only our international commitments, but also the humanity of these individuals. These are not numbers in political debates, but people seeking protection.
What is the solution?
As with family reunification, administrative delays increase a feeling of despair, with current processing times for asylum applications being more than two years. These groups therefore face the same problem: a saturated system and little real will to find a solution between Canada and the provinces.
The problem lies in ineffective management and increasing politicization of immigration which fuels division. It is therefore crucial that governments adopt a more humane approach that is more respectful of our international commitments. As shown in section 3 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, family reunification and refugee protection are legislative priorities and are at the heart of Canada’s migration history. Better communication between the provincial and federal levels is also essential to achieve better integration. The time is no longer for federal-provincial squabbles; we must streamline procedures now, with humanity and dignity.