Global Courant 2023-04-29 00:03:00
Many who need to renew their passports and visas or even take their citizenship oath are waiting in limbo amid a 10-day strike by members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed the government had made “serious offers” at the negotiating table. including a new offer brought to the table that day, but by Friday afternoon the strike continued.
Amaya Hernandez Villavicencio, a student from Mexico, said her student permit application had already been delayed by a year during the pandemic, preventing her from starting her studies in Canada on time.
“Now I am once again facing another impending delay in (my) student permit renewal,” Villavicencio told CTVNews.ca in an email. The student planned to go back to Mexico in the summer for a medical procedure, she said, because her health care in Canada didn’t cover it, but now she’s not sure if she will be able to because she has to stay in Canada until her student permit is renewed.
“I’m here because this is a great country,” Villavicencio said, “…but it’s disheartening not being able to see my family for who knows how long, and not having access to affordable health care.”
Villavicencio is one of more than 20 people who have emailed CTV News about the fallout from the PSAC strike.
Arezoo, who asked that her full name not be shared, said her upcoming citizenship oath is scheduled for next week, but she’s not sure if it will be postponed.
“I have studied, worked and lived in Canada for the past six years and I was about to take my citizenship oath next week,” Arezoo told CTV News, “but this strike has left me with nothing but uncertainty and fear. I check the news every hour hoping to hear that they have reached a fair deal and that everything can return to normal.”
Arezoo said she planned to visit her brother in the US next month, but if she cannot take her oath next week, she is not sure if she will be able to enter the country. “I hope this strike ends well for all Canadians.”
Jonas, an Edmonton resident who only gave his first name, told CTV News that he and his family moved to Canada from Colombia eight years ago.
“My girlfriend, the kids (and I) live from paycheck to paycheck,” he said in an email. He said his “very disabled daughter” turns 15 in May and the family planned to go to Mexico to celebrate her quinceanera, “which is kind of a big deal if you’re Spanish.”
Jonas said he and his girlfriend had saved up for years to pay for this trip, but earlier this month they realized their daughter’s passport had expired.
“So we went to the passport office to renew it. The strike took place three days later. Now we’re going to lose $8,000 (that) we saved and invested (for) her quinceanera.
On Friday morning, PSAC tweeted: “Thanks to inflation rising 11% since 2021, federal government officials wages are the same as they were in 2007. No other industry – none – has average inflation-adjusted wages as high as far back as federal public sector employees.”
Since last week, about 155,000 civil servants have gone on strike.
