Immigration Canada Deadline Looms for Haitian and Zimbabwean Refugees

Members of Montreal's Haitian community to protest in front of Immigration Canada in anger and worry over quickly approaching deadline

by NON-STATUS ACTION COMMITTEE

Press point at 11AM (Monday, May 25) in front of the offices of Immigration Canada and the Canadian Border Services Agency at 1010 Saint-Antoine Street in Montreal.

MONTREAL – On Monday May 25th 2015, members of the NON-STATUS ACTION COMMITTEE will gather before the offices of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) in order to denounce the federal government's inaction with regards to the lives of thousands of people and families living in Canada who are affected by the lifting of the moratorium on removals to Haiti and Zimbabwe.

CONTEXT

In December of 2014, the Canadian government announced the lifting of the moratorium that prevented the deportations of Haitians and Zimbabweans affected by the measure. Thus opening the path for thousands to be deported to their countries of origin, the government also granted a temporary stay until June 1st 2015, allowing the non-status people to make a humanitarian and compassionate claims application. Their actual number is unclear, but we estimate over 3,000 are affected. The great majority of those affected who are of Haitian origin reside in Montreal, and many have young children who were born here.

UPCOMING ACTIONS

Members of the NON-STATUS ACTION COMMITTEE will be in front of 1010 Saint-Antoine this Monday, May 25 at 11am in order to express their concern and anger in the face of the approaching June 1st 2015 deadline established by the federal government.

To date, the Conservative government has refused an answer:

• To our open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, dating back to March 12th 2015

• To the request made by Quebec's Immigration Minister on May 12th 2015

• To the community organizations of Greater Montreal on the necessity to extend the deadline of June 1st 2015 by three (3) months.

Given these circumstances, the Committee will reiterate its refusal of the case-by-case approach to this issue; it will continue to demand a collective and comprehensive solution allowing every person affected by the
lifting of the moratorium to regularize their status and remain in Canada. On Sunday May 31st at 2PM, we will walk with SOLIDARITY ACROSS BORDERS from St-Michel metro to Jarry Park in solidarity will people living without status.

- 30 -

PRESS ADVISORY

NON-STATUS ACTION COMMITTEE
6970 Marquette Street, Montreal (Quebec) H2E 2C7
Serge Bouchereau; Telephone : 514-383-8281
comitedactionsansstatut@gmail.com