Recently in Montreal’s Parc-Extension neighborhood, demonstrators gathered to request the federal government grant permanent residency status for all undocumented individuals living in Canada.
Across the country, similar protests took place as part of what’s been called the “Migrant Spring.”Protesters called on Immigration Minister Marc Miller to create a program to regularize the status of migrants and end deportations and immigration detention.
Miller said In December, he was preparing a program that would let many undocumented people apply for permanent residency but the protesters say that they don’t want anyone left out.
One of the protesters, Shahista Hussein, says that many in Parc-Extension are struggling. Undocumented people are scared to go outside, being seen by the police, and getting deported. The main goal of the protest is to put pressure on the government, says Shahista.
Quebec Premier François Legault has said the province has exceeded its ability to take in more asylum seekers, saying the arrival of more migrants also poses a real issue for the future of French in Quebec.
Legault has asked Ottawa for full control over immigration to the province, but the request was not approved. But Hussein said instead of turning people away, leaders need to be chipping in to help and work together
A community organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre, Gaurav Sharma appealed to Legault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to give all undocumented individuals what he called a chance to contribute to Canadian society.
While he understands taking in individuals from other nations is expensive, and that it takes time for newcomers to learn the French language, Sharma said it’s worth investing in it.
Yonnel Destin, who works with Solidarity Across Borders says that, without status, everything is difficult in this country. Initially from Congo, Yonnel Destin came to Canada via Roxham Road, the irregular border crossing that the federal government closed in March 2023.
Now a permanent resident through his wife’s sponsorship, Destin said he knows the difficulty of being a refugee and fleeing one’s home country. If you don’t have status, you can’t go to the hospital or you can’t work, says Destin.
Destin said, that to get status it took him four years and he wants other migrants like him to become regularized so they can stay in Canada. “The doors have to be open for everybody,” he said. CBC has reached out to both Canada and Quebec’s immigration ministers for comment, but both have not responded.
