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Announcement concerning the suspension of the private sponsorship program - November 2020
The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) announced on Wednesday, October 28, that they were suspending until November 1, 2021 all engagement requests for the private sponsorship program for refugees, within all organizations of Quebec, throughout all categories, while they investigate.
The reason is that there were allegations of "corruption". We know that this corruption occurred in some organizations, and within sponsors (even courriers). It is not, in any case, a reason to blame ALL organizations, or to present this corruption as inherent to the sponsorship program. Once again, we know that both the sponsors AND the organizations are two pillars, necessary to well being of this program, created for refugee people.
CALL mifi : 1 877 864-9191
About
The Catholic Church of Montreal has a long experience of welcoming and sponsoring refugees. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, we were approached by the governments to welcome and support the "boat people" who were fleeing South-East Asia.
The Diocese of Montreal have had an engagement with the Government of Quebec to facilitate the refugee sponsorship program for many years.
The Diocese has a responsibility toward the people, groups and parishes who wish to sponsor a refugee family and offers administrative support during the sponsorship procedures.
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Please read the update notice concerning new requests and current requests for 2020.
information on the sponsorship program
The Diocese of Montreal has a partnership with the governement to sponsor a limited number of refugees each year. This process has to be initiated by a permanent resident or a citizen of Canada.
conditions for the sponsors
Individuals or groups can submit a request to the Canadian government to sponsor refugees. In that case, the individuals in Canada are responsible for covering the reinstallation fee.
Once the request is filled and sent to the government, there is a long waiting time before being able to enter Canada. This waiting may vary between 8 to 70 months. The waiting time depends on where you live now. You can verify your specific waiting time with the Government of Canada.
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The sponsor and the Diocese commit, for a year, to provide for the essential needs of the sponsored family (housing, furniture, food, clothes, school…).
conditions for the refugee
To be eligible to the sponsorship program, the refugee has to be out of his/her origin country, because of an issue related to one of the five following motives: race, religion, ethnicity, political opinions or belonging to a particular social group.
The refugee cannot have access to a status in the country he/she is currently living, and also has to prove the impossibility to return in his/her home country.
LINKS
press
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​"Une rencontre enrichissante avec les familles de réfugiés" - Diocèse de Montréal - 10 avril 2019
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"Cela fait sept ans que je n'ai pas vu ma soeur" - Diocèse de Montréal - 13 février 2019
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"Mgr Lépine à la rencontre des réfugiés" - Diocèse de Montréal - 10 avril 2018
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"Mgr Lépine accueille des familles réfugiées" - Diocèse de Montréal - 11 avril 2017
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"Branle-bas de combat pour l'accueil des réfugiés" - Présence Info - 15 décembre 2015
MAIN contact
Private Sponsorship for refugees
alessandra santopadre
Project manager
514 925-4300 #295
Alessandra Santopadre
Alessandra has been working for 15 years for migrants and refugees around the world : Mozambique, South Africa, Mexico, Bolivia, Argentina, Haiti, Philippines.
Eight years ago, she immigrated to Canada and started working as a pastoral worker in Laval for the Diocese of Montreal.
In January 2016, she started working as a deputy manager in the Office of cultural and ritual communities.
Contact us
2000, Sherbrooke street west
Montreal, QC h3h 1g4
asantopadre@diocesemontreal.org
514 925-4300 #295
on appointment only!