Mr. Speaker, on November 24, I asked the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration a question on an order to deport Mrs. Thérèse Sabadin and her two children to the Seychelles. Mrs. Sabadin had suffered physical violence and had received death threats from her husband, who was convicted and subsequently deported to the Seychelles.
Although this was a very sad case, Mrs. Sabadin was deported with her two children to Barbados and then sent back to Canada. This involuntary trip was very expensive for Mrs. Sabadin.
Finally, as a result of numerous representations by the Bloc Quebecois and several women's organizations, the minister agreed to allow Mrs. Sabadin's application for permanent residence to be processed in Canada.
Mrs. Sabadin now has to wait several months before she can get a ministerial permit. Until then, she will have no status in this country and will not be able to work. Without official papers, she will also have trouble obtaining social assistance and will have to wait at least a year before she can get permanent residence status. To apply, Mrs. Sabadin had to pay $700, which she did not have, in administrative costs. She had already paid $650 for her initial application. Action réfugiés Montréal, a community organization, paid the fee on her behalf.
In this House, I have often criticized these fees as arbitrary and unfair. Recently, even the Liberal member for Winnipeg North was critical of this abuse of people in need by the Department of Immigration.
I would ask the minister to be more sensitive to the plight of women who claim refugee status on the grounds of fear of persecution because of their gender.
It is now ten days until Christmas and two weeks before the end of 1994, and I want to take this opportunity to send my best wishes to my constituents in Montreal North, especially those of ethnic origin, the Italians, Haitians, Arabs, Latin Americans, and so forth.
I also want to send my best wishes for health, happiness and peace to all new Quebecers and new Canadians. Despite the feelings of hostility that are apparent in some sectors of public opinion, I believe that most people still support immigration and opening our doors to refugees fleeing persecution. To the thousands of immigrants and refugees in Canada and Quebec, I want to send a message of support, understanding, solidarity and hope.