A well-established Mexican immigrant in the Limoilou district for several years will have to return to his country of origin, because he was unable to renew his work permit in time due to an imbroglio.
Juan Manuel Velazquez Lopez is a French-speaking immigrant who worked, until very recently, at UME – Urgence Marine Environnement, a company located in the Port of Quebec.
He is also well known in Vieux-Limoilou for his talents as a street artist and the many murals he painted on several walls in his neighborhood to which he is very attached.
“My life is here, not in Mexico”, insists the one who arrived in Limoilou in 2018.
Fallen between two chairs
Last September, he completed his license renewal application and indicated that he had submitted it to his employer in Quebec.
But the file fell between two chairs, since the head office in Montreal claims to have never received it. “There was a lack of coordination,” he explains.
When he realized that his request was never forwarded, it was unfortunately too late to redo the process.
He will come back
He says Service Canada offered to apply for refugee status, which would allow him to stay and work for a while. But he refuses, out of honesty.
“Inventing a story to say that my life is in danger is not my situation. It does not give a good image for Mexicans, ”he pleads.
He will return to Mexico for at least a year and intends to return to the neighborhood as soon as possible, so that he can apply for permits on time.
“I had to quit my job, because otherwise I was working illegally,” explains Mr. Velazquez Lopez, visibly very affected by the situation.
Dedicated worker
His employer is equally sorry for the situation, saying he would take him back “tomorrow morning” if he had the power to reverse the situation.
“We have the situation of foreign workers very much at heart, especially with the labor shortage,” he continues. But Immigration is merciless,” said Jonathan Berthiaume, director of UME – Urgence Marine Environnement.
Mr. Velazquez Lopez wants his story to provoke reflection with the authorities of Immigration Canada, in order to facilitate the integration of immigrants into the workplace.
“The immigrant workforce contributes to this society. The renewal process is very difficult for both workers and employers, he argues. Immigration officials know about these companies and do nothing to help the workers.”
He also challenged his deputies, but they are also helpless in the face of the situation.
The artist says he lives through hours of anguish, while he still does not know when he will have to leave Quebec.
His wife, who currently lives in Spokane, Washington, had to drive three days to pick up her three cats. One of them – who was recently hit by a car – is recovering from broken bones in both legs.
Some places where you can see the murals of Juan Manuel Velazquez Lopez
- Brûlerie Limoilou, at the corner of 1D Avenue and 18e Street
- Parking lot of the Stadaconé distillery, on the 2e Street
- Alley near the Mathieu Performance store, on 5e Street
- Alley behind the Miyagi restaurant, between 5e and the 6e street and near the 3e avenue
- Place Limouloise at the intersection of the 6e street and the 3e avenue