(Quebec) Paying for the bus and an allowance for asylum seekers or reducing their social assistance benefits in order to encourage them to leave Quebec are options that have been studied, but which have not been retained for the moment , supports the Legault government.
Its intention is to maintain pressure on Ottawa so that it itself takes the means to better distribute asylum seekers across the country.
The Press revealed Wednesday that in addition to the forced moves requested in Ottawa by François Legault, other options were examined by Quebec to push 80,000 asylum seekers to move to another province.
A reduction in the social assistance check, “this is not something that we are currently considering,” indicated the Prime Minister.
The Minister of Immigration and Canadian Relations, Jean-François Roberge, acknowledged that the option was examined. “I would tell you that we are evaluating lots of options for the moment, but it is not retained, on the table,” he replied during a press scrum before the question period at the Salon red. “It’s not in our plans at the moment, and what we’re doing at the moment is we’re working with Ottawa to reduce the number of asylum seekers and distribute them. »
Some 56,000 asylum seekers are receiving social assistance. The Minister of Social Solidarity, Chantal Rouleau, rules out cutting their checks. “I rule it out,” she said. “That’s not part of the plans. What is important is that the federal government takes its responsibilities. »
The government also considered the idea of paying asylum seekers the cost of transportation by bus or plane to another province while offering them a financial allowance. But again, “it is not on the table” to implement this measure. “We have a lot of thoughts, but what I’m saying is that it’s not on our radar to do that,” said Jean-François Roberge.