Recherche | Solutions Justes

Launched in the summer of 2023, this action research project is led by an interdisciplinary and inter-university team and stems from observations made on the ground.

The number of migrants with a temporary immigration status has increased significantly in recent years in Quebec, while their conditions for settlement and access to the recognition of their rights appear to be increasingly fragile. Legal and community services play an important role in supporting migrants in precarious situations.

Our Research Goals

To document the access to legal services and support for migrants with precarious status or no status in Quebec by exploring

Their specific needs in this regard,
Their actual access to existing resources,
Their experiences using those services,
The overall impact that legal support and advocacy have on their individual journeys.

Throughout 2024 and 2025, the research team conducted meetings in Montreal and across various regions of Quebec with over forty migrants living with precarious status or no status. The study also included consultations with fifty professionals who provided essential services and support, including those from the legal, advocacy, and psychosocial sectors.

The research team:

Marie-Jeanne Blain, principal researcher (Institute for Research on Migration and Society, Concordia University, and Université de Montréal (UdeM), InterActions Research Centre);
Muzhgan Haydary, research project manager, Just Solutions (MCM);
Co-researchers : Muzhgan Haydary, MCM / Delphine Nakache, University of Ottawa / Tatiana Sanhueza, École nationale d'administration publique (ÉNAP) and InterActions Research Centre / Aline Lechaume, U. Laval;
Research Assistants : Mona Subayi and Delfín Martín Heredia, UdeM

An interdisciplinary and inter-university research

Our sincere thanks go to the scientific committee, steering committee, and all those who generously contributed to this research.

Scientific committee

The creation of the scientific committee was a crucial step in ensuring the quality and success of this report. Their combined expertise ensured that the project was conducted with the highest levels of scientific and ethical rigor, while fostering an effective and enriching collaboration.

Members of the scientific committee

Idil Atak, PhD

Professor, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University

Janet Cleveland, PhD

Researcher, SHERPA University Institute;

McGill University Social & Transcultural Psychiatry

Jennifer Lopez, PhD Candidate

University of Montreal, Anthropology;

Part Time Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa - uOttawa

Jill Hanley, PhD

Full professor, School of Social Work, McGill University;

Scientific director, SHERPA University Institute

; directrice scientifique, Institut universitaire SHERPA

Karine Bates, PhD

Professor, Anthropology Department, University of Montreal, researcher at the Montreal Centre for International Studies (CÉRIUM)

Naïma Bentayeb, PhD

Institutional researcher, SHERPA University Institute; associate professor, ÉNAP and McGill University; researcher, research team on governance and solidarity networks (REGARDS)

Nicole Ives, PhD

Full professor, director, School of Social Work, McGill University

Steering committee

Between 2023 and 2024, the steering committee, made up of representatives from community organizations, institutions, and im·migrants themselves, gathered every one to three months.

The goal was to share diverse expertise and field experience to develop relevant content and activities for our Rêver à l'essentiel awareness campaign and various advocacy initiatives.

The report launch day

June 2, 2025, Montreal, Concordia University.

Over 150 people gathered for this day filled with rich exchanges and learning.

1

Presentation of the final research results

followed by a period of exchange and discussion

2

Collaborative workshop

Bringing together professionals and those directly affected to identify and prioritize concrete courses of action to improve access to legal services for im·migrants.

3

Festive social

For more information:

Muzhgan Haydary, research project manager and co-researcher, Just Solutions (MCM)

(514) 844-9128 ext. 107

recherche.sj@montrealcitymission.org

Marie-Jeanne Blain, principal researcher, IRMS U. Concordia and dep. anthropology UdeMontréal

(514) 465-8181

mj.blain@umontreal.ca

Financially supported by