François Legault’s government wants to restrict access to the Quebec refugee sponsorship program. The goal is clear: Quebec wants to protect sponsored refugees at maintain its humanitarian purpose.

A series of legislative changes were published in the Official Gazette.

From now on, organizations wishing to sponsor refugees will be required to have registered charitable status, which has not happened in the past.

So, explained the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI), they will need respect the guidelines applicable to them, specifically relating to the transparency of their finances and the use of their resources for charitable purposes.

Prohibition on profiting from sponsorship

It’s heading in the right directionassures Hugo Ducharme, who holds sponsorship for the Jesuit Refugee Service.

The legal barriers, in accounting terms, are greater. This will avoid some of the problems we have experienced and it will reduce the risk of the group of sponsors becoming a problem.he believes.

” It’s delicious to clean. There used to be a lot of laxity, quite a bit “free for everyone”. “

Other additional steps are mentioned. Such as groups of two to five people who can sponsor refugees, representatives and board members of organizations must have exemplary behavior in society.

They will not be able to complete a sponsorship application if one of them is incarcerated in a prison, if they are subject to a removal order or a procedure for recovery of their status, or if they have been convicted of murder or an offense against tao.

Clarifications on the prohibition of earning from a sponsorship commitment will also be put in place, the MIFI is determined.

A long legend that will end

These regulatory changes come after the long saga surrounding this refugee sponsorship program, which was suspended for organizations in the fall of 2020.

” It is a response to activities contrary to the integrity of the program on the part of individuals, groups and organizations. “

These changes will promote better protection and support for the people their sponsor advocatescontinued the MIFI spokesperson.

Various surveys have revealed disturbing practices in this environment. Quebec was discussed deceptive schemes. For example, organizations solicited money from refugees or used this collective sponsorship program to migrate Syrians who were financially comfortable in Quebec.

In January, before reopening this program, Quebec published a blacklist of 18 organizations. They have not been allowed this year to submit new requests for grant, in the past, a false or misleading document or information in MIFI.

The department also changed its process. Instead of processing applications on the principle of first come, first servedMIFI established a draw, which was not unanimous.

” The organizations took advantage of the crisis in Syria, the situation and a golden opportunity. This is unacceptable. “

Because of them this program was affected. But we were all put in the same bag. Me, it offends me that we draw a lot for the files of people looking for securityjudged the president of the Hay Doun organization.

While welcoming the government’s general idea, Nayiri Tavlian said that anyway Crashed into in the absence of MIFI dialogue.

We are now required to have reports, audits. Of course, we need to make sure the integrity of the program is maintained, but hopefully we can consult with organizations, like ours, that have a lot of experience. We have nothing to blame on ourselves.

However, these regulatory changes have not yet been implemented, MIFI noted, which invites organizations to share their comments until mid -May.

Some adjustmentsindicates ministry, then can be done.