The owners of the Tartes et Clafoutis bakery, in Granby, will have to return to France since they continued to work while their work permits were revoked.
“It’s an honest mistake, we would never have continued if we knew all of this,” explained Joseph Lévêque.
Upon their arrival in Canada, the couple applied for permanent residence. Their permit expired in December 2023 and the two adults applied for permanent residence in fall 2023.
When applying for permanent residence, they should have applied for work permit continuity, which they did not know.
But at that point, their goal was permanent residency. “The goal for us was permanent residence so we didn’t see the need for it, but if we had known, we would have done it,” said the father.
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“We went [au poste frontalier] Lacolle to renew our immigration papers, a simple procedure, the man added. We crossed the lines and when we arrived, that’s when things went south.”
That’s when they learned that they had worked illegally on Canadian territory.
According to them, they had continuity, but the border agent clarified that they had the continuity of being legally in the territory, but not to work there.
The family will have to leave the country with their partner, Sophie Granet and their 9-year-old daughter.
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The owners claim that the border agent did not let them leave without purchasing their plane tickets.
They are expected at the airport on January 2, with no return date. The family will be escorted to their seats, a “degrading” procedure, she said.
A less festive period
Since December 2, commercial displays have been less stocked.
“Our turnover is falling every day. It is estimated that it is around 40% daily, and I cannot even imagine what it will be during the holidays,” mentioned Ms. Granet.
Although other employees are helping out, the quantities are significantly lower than before.
Disappointed customers
For the customers of the Tartes et Clafoutis bakery, it is a real mourning.
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“Every year my mother comes to make my birthday cake here […] It has become a tradition thanks to their beautiful work,” says Dominic Fortier, a customer who became a friend of the owners.
For Claire, it was a tradition to come and taste Joseph’s pastries every week. “They’re good people, it saddened me to learn that it’s over,” she adds.
Desperate, citizens called on the Member of Parliament for Shefford, Andréanne Larouche, and the office of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller. Discussions are reportedly underway between the two offices.
As for the couple, it’s time to pack up to repatriate all their personal belongings, to be ready on January 2. As of December 19, they still have no address waiting for them.
