News from Toronto . . .

            The Scalabrini Migrant Centre of Toronto has published its report for January 2001.  As of the end of 2000, the Centre had seen a total of 720 cases.  Of these, 276 have been closed, 162 are awaiting instructions from clients, and 282 remain active, an enormous amount of work for a small group of people.

            Of these 720 cases, 223 commenced during the year 2000.  The people presenting these cases come from all over the world, but the number of Brazilians tripled between July and December 2001.  That is at least in part because the Scalabrinians work among the Brazilians, so people in that community have become aware of the assistance available at the Centre.  The people present four broad categories of cases.  A scant majority turn out to have no legal documents to remain in Canada.  An almost equal number fewer “independent,” and the Centre must see if they qualify to remain in Canada.

            As the number of independents, each one with the possibility of qualifying for legal residence in Canada under a different criterion would suggest, the Centre provides a great deal of help on a one-to-one basis.  However, during 2000, the Centre held four seminars for the Filipino community.  These seminars answered many basic questions, saving the people time, effort, and money, and freeing up the Centre personnel for more complicated work.

            The Centre also monitors proposed immigration legislation.  During 2000, its major interest was Bill C-31.  The bill provided penalties for smugglers and denied the right of sponsorship of immigrants to those convicted of spousal abuse. It redefined “family,” which in turn expands the number of migrants qualifying

for admission as family members to include children under 22 years of age, and same-sex partners.  It also increased scrutiny for immigrants suspected of crime: front end security screening; clarified grounds for detention of refugees suspected of being security risks; prevented admission of people who have defaulted on spousal or child support; and limited appeals for the removal of serious criminals.  Finally, the bill would have created a new “landing class” (permission to reside in Canada) for workers, students, and spouses already within the country.  The bill died when Parliament was dissolved, October 22, 2000.

            The Scalabrini Migrant Centre enjoys the support of the Scalabrinian parish of Saint Anthony.  On November 19, 2000, Saint Anthony’s hosted the Centre’s Second Annual Fund Raising Dinner.  Six Scalabrini priests were honored this year:  Fathers Joseph Ballen, Santo Cigolini, Joseph Invernizzi, Joseph Spigolon, Aldo Uderzo, and Ralph Vallella.  We’d also like to honor the 295 ticket-holders, though, because they helped to raise $7,174.63 for the work of the Centre.

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From Montreal . . .

            Teresa Petraglia reports on the very busy Scalabrinian Lay Movement at Our Lady of Pompei in Montreal.

            After the provincial meeting in New York in November 2000, the Montreal group returned home with a renewed and certainly more focused enthusiasm for our special mission.  A commemorative mass was held on November 26 celebrating the founding of the congregation and allowing existing members the opportunity to rededicate themselves to our mission.

            After much anticipation and preparation formation sessions got underway in mid-      please go to page 7