Private Sponsorship of Refugees in Québec: Perspectives of Sponsors and Refugees from Syria
Between 2015 and 2017, Quebec hosted 11,251 Syrian refugees (MIDI, 2017). The majority (81%) arrived in Quebec through the “private sponsorship of the refugee’s program.” This program has repeatedly been presented as a notable model around the world. In this program, groups of two to five people from the civil society or formal organizations, such as community-based organizations or religious institutions, accepted the responsibility to become sponsors to support the refugees’ integration and insured their basic needs for a period of 12 months. Based on a qualitative and microsocial approach, this research action carried out between 2016 and 2017 looks at the experience of sponsored Syrian refugees and their sponsors. Given the “massive” arrival and the leitmotif of sponsors’ responsibilities for the integration of the refugees, how do the sponsors interpret their responsibilities and what are the modalities of support for the people who they welcome? As part of a qualitative research, our team met with more than 50 participants and collaborators including, 19 refugees and 22 sponsors. The purpose of this contribution is to take a critical look at the implementation of the program of private sponsorship of refugees and to highlight the diversity of experiences - sometimes positive, sometimes ambiguous - from the point of view of the sponsors as well as refugees from Syria. We conclude with reflections on the issues, but also the contribution of the private sponsorship program, while raising the importance of the complementary roles and responsibilities for hospitality and inclusion (governments, organizations, sponsors, civil society).