The Legault government is experiencing unprecedented delays in issuing the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) to immigrants whom Canada has nevertheless accepted as permanent residents for humanitarian reasons. While it was only a formality of a few weeks, it now takes almost a year to obtain this precious sesame, which gives access to important services, including Quebec health insurance.
“It’s a dramatic situation,” says lawyer Anne-Cécile Raphaël. “It’s a short and simple document. There are no difficulties in producing it. »
Me Raphaël has several clients who have been accepted as permanent residents for humanitarian reasons, but who have been waiting for months to get the CSQ. “I have clients whose application was submitted in July-August [2021] and who still do not have their CSQ, she says. I have a client who has a complete file and whose CSQ is the last missing piece. Moreover, for the overwhelming majority of cases, there is only that which is missing. »
The duty was able to observe that many lawyers have clients whose CSQ application, filed last summer, has still not been processed. Some even report that these people have completely abandoned the idea of living in Quebec to go to another province. “I even have a family from Nigeria who moved to Ontario because of the long delays in getting the CSQ,” said lawyer Nataliya Dzera.
I have a family from Nigeria who moved to Ontario due to long delays in getting the CSQ
Former president of the Quebec Association of Immigration Lawyers, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, remarks that the problem of delays only seems to arise for people who have applied for residency for “humanitarian considerations”. “It’s not as long for shelter or family reunification. It is in the humanitarian sector that the deadlines are exploding, ”says the lawyer who is preparing to run for the votes for Québec solidaire in Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne, in Montreal.
“I do not understand why the government is delaying giving the CSQ. These are all people who are here and have had a positive decision from IRCC [Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada]. They have rather dramatic personal circumstances which justified these humanitarian requests. »
Deprived of RAMQ
The federal government has the power to grant permanent residence on humanitarian grounds to someone who demonstrates good integration and who meets certain criteria justifying the requested exemptions. For a person wishing to settle in Quebec, there is also the CSQ stage which, not so long ago, was obtained easily and quickly, in two or three months, according to the lawyers’ observations. “When the form is completed and all the information is there, it is a simple document to issue. It’s an approval rate of more than 95%,” observed Ms.e Cliche-Rivard.
However, until the CSQ is received, it is not possible to have access to the RAMQ, nor to the same tuition fees as permanent residents and Canadian citizens. Without the CSQ, it is also not possible for an applicant to conclude his permanent residence file in order to then begin the process of sponsoring his children who would have remained in the country of origin. This slowness, which harms their clients’ files, outrages several immigration lawyers.
“I take care of a widow from Eastern Europe, whose [la demande pour motifs] relief had been accepted following a battle in federal court. This time, she has to wait almost a year to be eligible for the RAMQ card,” says Ms.e Dzera, implying that his client is elderly and may need care.
After obtaining a positive response to her application for permanent residence on humanitarian grounds, Diana, who does not give her real name for fear of reprisals, then waited almost 8 months before having her CSQ and 11 months before having her RAMQ. and his permanent residence. “I had serious health problems and I did not have my card [d’assurance maladie]. My visits to the hospital were very expensive,” says this Haitian, mother of six children. “I was not well. I was in depression. »
Diana also had plans to bring her eldest daughter to Quebec, who was then 21, the age limit for sponsoring a child, but her CSQ arrived too late. Her daughter turned 22 in the meantime. “I want my daughter here with me. It’s very sad what happened. We had prepared all his file in order to be able to submit it as soon as possible. »
11 months of waiting
The Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) does not deny that the delay has lengthened and estimates the current average delay for processing CSQ requests for humanitarian consideration at 11 months. This includes waiting to obtain missing documents or information from the client, if any. As of mid-June, the MIFI was reviewing applications received by mid-August 2021.
“The number of applications for permanent selection [CSQ] received by the MIFI under the Program of Persons Selected for Humanitarian Considerations has increased in recent years,” the ministry said to explain these delays.
“Since a large proportion of the people who submit these applications are rejected asylum seekers, the MIFI estimates that the increase in the number of asylum applications made in Quebec influences the number of applications for humanitarian considerations received”, adds- he.