Haitians in Canada relieved by new moratorium on deportations

Many members of the Haitian community in Canada are breathing a sigh of relief now thatthe federal government has reinstated a moratorium on deportations to the troubled Caribbean nation.

The federal government stopped deporting Haitians without legal status in Canada more than a decade agobecause of political violence, and the moratorium was extended following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

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The former federal Conservative government lifted the ban on deportations last year, despite aplea from Haitians facing expulsionfor more time to apply for permanent resident status to be granted on humanitarian grounds.

"It was a lot of anxiety," said Marjorie Villefranche, the executive director ofMaison d'Hati, a cultural centre in Montreal. "They were crying, they couldn't sleep."

Villefranche saidmany Haitians in Canada illegally had deportation dates set for as early as next week and were worried about being sent back.

She creditsthe new Liberal government withhaving listened to the pleas of many in theHaitian community.

"They were being very compassionate with the people coming from Syria," said Villefranche. "It's normal to be compassionate with people who are living hereand not to send them back in their country."

'If I go back to Haiti, I think they will kill me'

The news comes as a relief to St. Clair St. Laurent, who came to Canada in 2014.

The church pastor said he lived under threat of kidnapping and murder in Haiti from an unnamedgroup.

"I came to Canada to ask the government to accept me to live, so I can save my life," said St. Laurent.

His application to remain in Canada is now before theFederal Court.

"I don't want to go back to Haiti, because if I go back to Haiti, I think that they will kill me," he said.

The moratorium extends to people from Zimbabwe as well.

In all, about 3,500 peoplerisked expulsion.