OTTAWA – The Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) du Canada is encouraged by the special measures announced by the federal government in order to facilitate sponsorship and Family Class applications for Haitian-Canada families. However, Canada can and must do more on this issue.
The measures announced by the government include priority processing for sponsorship applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have close family members directly affected by the disaster in Haiti, specifically spouses and common-law partners, parents and grandparents.
“Considering the current situation in Haiti, it is essential that the family-class definition be expanded so that brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts as well as nephews and nieces, among others, can also benefit from these special measures,” says FCFA President Marie-France Kenny.
Given the magnitude of the disaster that has struck Haiti and the severity of the needs, the FCFA believes the rules governing the sponsorship process and permanent residence applications should be eased. Waiving the fees for permanent resident application and file treatment would constitute a significant gesture of support toward the Haitian people.
“What we have here is an opportunity to demonstrate the depth and scope of our ties with the Haitian nation,” states Ms. Kenny. “It should also be noted that several people of Haitian origin have settled in the Francophone and Acadian communities of Canada and have been there for many years.”
The Fédération also wishes to point out that one of the goals of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act pertains to French-language minority communities, and that there is a Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities.
In the past week, the FCFA has watched with much sadness the evolution of the situation in Haiti. Several members of the Fédération have already taken steps to aid the Haitian people, and discussions will be held in the coming days to determine how the Francophone and Acadian communities can best show their support, including the eventual reception, within our communities, of Haitians affected by the earthquake. The FCFA is offering to cooperate with Citizenship and Immigration Canada on this issue.
“What happened in Haiti touches us as human beings, as Canadian citizens and of course as members of a world community of French speakers united by strong ties of solidarity. For all these reasons, we will continue to be there for the Haitian people,” says Ms. Kenny.
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The measures announced by the government include priority processing for sponsorship applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have close family members directly affected by the disaster in Haiti, specifically spouses and common-law partners, parents and grandparents.
“Considering the current situation in Haiti, it is essential that the family-class definition be expanded so that brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts as well as nephews and nieces, among others, can also benefit from these special measures,” says FCFA President Marie-France Kenny.
Given the magnitude of the disaster that has struck Haiti and the severity of the needs, the FCFA believes the rules governing the sponsorship process and permanent residence applications should be eased. Waiving the fees for permanent resident application and file treatment would constitute a significant gesture of support toward the Haitian people.
“What we have here is an opportunity to demonstrate the depth and scope of our ties with the Haitian nation,” states Ms. Kenny. “It should also be noted that several people of Haitian origin have settled in the Francophone and Acadian communities of Canada and have been there for many years.”
The Fédération also wishes to point out that one of the goals of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act pertains to French-language minority communities, and that there is a Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities.
In the past week, the FCFA has watched with much sadness the evolution of the situation in Haiti. Several members of the Fédération have already taken steps to aid the Haitian people, and discussions will be held in the coming days to determine how the Francophone and Acadian communities can best show their support, including the eventual reception, within our communities, of Haitians affected by the earthquake. The FCFA is offering to cooperate with Citizenship and Immigration Canada on this issue.
“What happened in Haiti touches us as human beings, as Canadian citizens and of course as members of a world community of French speakers united by strong ties of solidarity. For all these reasons, we will continue to be there for the Haitian people,” says Ms. Kenny.
The FCFA is a national organization that includes Francophone representative associations of nine provinces and the three territories, as well as ten national organizations. Its role is to defend and promote the rights and interests of the French-Speaking population outside Quebec.