François Legault asks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to slow down the arrival of asylum seekers in the country. Quebec’s reception and integration capacity has arrived “very close to the breaking point,” he argues.
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“The situation has become unbearable,” wrote the CAQ Prime Minister in an official letter sent to his federal counterpart on Wednesday, at the end of the day.
According to figures from the Legault government, Quebec welcomed more asylum seekers than the rest of Canada combined, in 2022. Last year, half of the asylum seekers who arrived in Canada settled in Quebec.
In 2023, that means 59,735 new arrivals for the first 11 months of the year. Government projections estimate that number will be 65,000 for the current year.
Housing crisis
Due to their number, asylum seekers struggle to find a roof, “which contributes to accentuating the housing crisis,” writes François Legault.
Quebec also had to open 1,150 reception classes to Frenchize and integrate the children of these new arrivals, or “the equivalent of around fifty primary schools,” writes the CAQ Prime Minister.
In addition, asylum seekers now constitute 16% of last resort aid providers, he points out.
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The Legault government also estimates that the federal level still owes compensation of $470 million for costs incurred in 2021 and 2022.
The Prime Minister adds to this table that “in general, relaxations on visa policies present risks of opening loopholes used by criminalized groups, which pose serious security challenges for Quebec and Canada.”
Consequently, François Legault asks Justin Trudeau to “curb and reduce the influx of asylum seekers entering Canada by tightening Canadian visa granting policy.”
Ottawa should also distribute asylum seekers “fairly” across Canadian territory “based on reception capacities,” writes Mr. Legault.
Crime
At the same time, he demands to “close any loophole that would allow criminal groups to infiltrate into Canada.”
Finally, Quebec demands reimbursement of the sums spent on welcoming asylum seekers.
“This is an urgent matter of the utmost importance, which must be resolved as a whole,” concludes the Quebec premier.
If governments have an obligation to welcome asylum seekers “with humanity and dignity,” Quebec’s resources “are not infinite,” he writes.
Extract
“Unfortunately, we are very close to the breaking point due to the excessive number of asylum seekers arriving in Quebec month after month. The situation has become unbearable.”
– François Legault, Premier of Quebec