French family in Calgary may be forced to leave Canada
Posted Jan 25, 2023 11:49 am.
A family from France is facing an uncertain future in Calgary.
Nine years after moving to Canada, they’re no longer eligible for temporary worker status. Despite their best efforts to build a life, they’ve failed to qualify for permanent residency.
The family claims they were subject to abuse and harassment in France, and CityNews has agreed not to publish their names.
It’s also part of the reason they’re desperate to stay in Calgary.
“For our own safety. My own safety, our kid’s safety, and also for our mental health,” the father told CityNews
“If we can’t find a solution to renew our work visas by March 18th, we will have to leave the country.
“Our kids have spent most of their lives in Canada, and it’s very stressful for them too, because that’s all they know.”
In an effort to establish a life in Canada, the family moved from Calgary to Vernon in 2017, where they opened a kickboxing studio.
Three years and a pandemic later, they were forced to close their business and are facing deportation.
“We could not apply for any loan or support. So, we had to start with our own savings, and that’s what we did. We have invested all of our savings, and it was around $300,000,” the father said.
Meanwhile, the family was ineligible for financial relief, because of their status as temporary workers.
The family immigrated through Canada’s “express entry” application process for workers who want to settle in Canada permanently.
The application takes age, education, work experience, and more into account, building a score system that determines eligibility.
However, with only one parent working in a field that doesn’t qualify as skilled work, the family doesn’t meet the criteria.
In response to their situation, a group of neighbours have rallied to support the family in seeking legal aid.
“We didn’t choose the country where we were born in, but at least we were able to choose the country where we want to spend the rest of our lives and raise our kids in, and it was Canada,” the father added.
