Human rights and immigrant aid organizations accuse the Coalition Avenir Québec government of creating an anxiety-provoking climate by blaming the crisis in public services on asylum seekers. Some even see it as an “extremely worrying trend of xenophobic populism” which is spreading in Europe and around the world.
On “To say that “Quebec identity” is threatened by people seeking asylum is dangerously similar to a call to hatred, to xenophobia,” declared France-Isabelle Langlois. That Quebec is following the extremely worrying trend of xenophobic populism observed everywhere, particularly in Europe, is of great concern. »
To say that “Quebec identity” is threatened by people seeking asylum is dangerously similar to a call to hatred and xenophobia. That Quebec is following the extremely worrying trend of xenophobic populism observed everywhere, particularly in Europe, is of great concern…
— France-Isabelle Langlois (@filangloisAICF) February 21, 2024
Faced with the exit of the four CAQ ministers who denounced the pressure exerted by asylum seekers on various public services such as health and education, more than a hundred community organizations wanted to rectify the situation in front of a speech “numbers driven” and “lack of context”.
“To mention a breaking point when people seeking asylum represent 1.8% of the Quebec population and the budget allocated to these people only represents approximately 0.25% of Quebec’s overall portfolio leads to questions on the government’s budgetary management,” reads a press release from the Table de concertation des organizations serving refugees and immigrants (TCRI).
Louis-Philippe Jannard, coordinator of the protection component at the TCRI, is sorry for the “disturbing” tone and the “not very nuanced” assertions of the ministers. “They blame the asylum seekers. Last month, it was the housing crisis, this month, it’s the education crisis… We wonder what the applicants will be blamed for next time. »
We will not solve the crisis in public services by admitting fewer people in the humanitarian category. ” Say that [leur présence] threatens the Quebec model, it seems really exaggerated to me,” added Mr. Jannard. The TCRI recalls that Canada, and therefore Quebec, has the obligation to respect the Geneva Convention which it signed, and to welcome people fleeing violence and persecution. Around two thirds of asylum seekers are accepted as refugees in first instance.
Taxpayers like the others
Asylum seekers, who are taxpayers like all other Quebecers, benefit from several services, but they are not entitled to employability assistance measures and francization allowances, recalls the TCRI. And according to her, the government would spend less on last resort financial assistance if it applied the recent decision of the Court of Appeal which gives asylum seekers access to subsidized daycare. Quebec in fact announced Wednesday morning that it wished to contest this judgment in the Supreme Court and have it suspended in the meantime.
“If we gave them access to daycare [subventionnées], this would allow a certain number of people to enter the job market and the children could already start learning French and integrate. They would perhaps no longer need to be in reception class afterwards,” maintains Mr. Jannard.