A Montreal-based couple is currently unable to bring their adopted daughter home to Canada due to a provincial dispute. The Quebec government has refused to recognize the adoption of the child,who was brought from Lebanon, citing a lack of prior approval.
A 13-year wait for a Quebec adoption
Roula Bou Chahla and Jean Abou Ghannam spent more than a decade attempting to build a family through official provincial channels. As the report indicates, the couple had remained on Quebec's adoption waiting list for 13 years before seeking alternatives.
The decision to look toward Lebanon was driven by the daunting timelines provided by local authorities. after being told they might have to wait an additional 12 to 20 years for a domestic placement, the couple turned to the Secretariat for International Services for Children (SASIE) to find a faster path to parenthood.
The SASIE-facilitated process and Quebec's refusal
The adoption of 22-month-old Liana was arranged through an international service in coordination with a Lebanese NGO. According to the source, an agent from SASIE informed the couple that they could pursue the adoption without using accredited agencies, provided they followed specific cooperative protocols.
Despite the couple's efforts to follow these instructions,the Quebec government ultimately rejected the legitimacy of the arrangement. While the couple submitted various forms and sought to comply with provincial standards, the government maintained that the adoption was not pre-approved, creating a legal impasse that prevents the family from reuniting in Canada.
18 months of danger in war-torn Lebanon
The legal standoff has resulted in a profound physical separation of the family, with Jean Abou Ghannam returning to Canada for work while Roula Bou Chahla remains in Lebanon. bou Chahla has now been stranded in the country for 18 months, caring for Liana amidst escalating regional instability.
The safety of the child is a primary concern as the family navigates life in a conflict zone. Bou Chahla has described the experience as a nightmare, noting the constant anxiety caused by drones flying overhead in Lebanon. The emotional toll is compounded by the broken promise of a stable life in Laval, Quebec, which the mother had envisioned for her daughter.
The unresolved status of the Lebanese Justice Department documents
The path to resolution remains clouded by several significant unknowns. While Bou Chahla obtained official documentation from the Lebanese Justice Department to prove the adoption's legitimacy, it is still unverified whether the Quebec government will accept these specific papers as sufficient proof of legality.
Furthermore, the report does not clarify if the couple has initiated legal proceedings in other Canadian provinces to bypass the Quebec administration. If the provincial government maintains its refusal, the family faces the prospect of abandoning their home, their community, and Bou Chahla's teaching career to relocate to a different country or province.
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