Haitian Montrealers call for special program for those immigrating from home country [Video]

The escalating violence in parts of Haiti is giving members of the Haitian diaspora in Montreal new reason to worry for people in their home country, almost daily.

“They’re trying to not just survive,” Haitian Montrealer Manuel Mathieu stresses. “They’re trying not to die.”

It’s for this reason the artist and his sister, Marina Mathieu, penned an open letter to both the Quebec and Canadian governments, signed by other young people of Haitian descent in Quebec, asking for more help for Haitians in Canada and in Haiti.

“From my perspective,” says Marina, “I think it’s important that the government understands the power that they have.”

One of the things on their minds is to get something done for Haitian asylum seekers in Quebec.

“Really making sure that measures for asylum seekers are put in place,” Marina stresses.

There are thousands of Haitians in Quebec seeking refuge. Among them are hundreds who have had their application for refugee …