Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Ottawa is taking Quebec’s concerns over an influx of asylum seekers “very seriously.”
LeBlanc made the statement Thursday in response to Premier François Legault’s formal ask for the federal government to slow the number of asylum seekers entering the province, which he warned is nearing a “breaking point.”
“We are taking the most recent financial request from the Quebec government very seriously,” LeBlanc said in a written statement shared with Global News.
“We are committed to working with the government of Quebec to find solutions to the challenges posed by the significant number of asylum seekers that Quebec receives.”
Legault made his request in an official letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent Wednesday afternoon, a copy of which was obtained by The Canadian Press.
“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 unsustainable,” Legault wrote.
He said that in 2022, Quebec took in more asylum seekers than the rest of the country combined.
Trudeau, during a visit to Nunavut on Thursday, said the federal government will continue its work with the province on the issue.
“We have been working closely with Quebec over the past years as we have with different parts of the country that have experienced a greater than expected influx of asylum seekers,” Trudeau said. “We will continue to work with them because it’s in all of our interests to make sure that we’re doing everything to ensure that our provinces are as successful as possible.”
The closure of the unofficial Roxham Road crossing point south of Montreal in 2023 “momentarily” slowed the flow, he said. “However, the arrivals have continued to increase at airports. The number of people arriving on a visitor visa and applying for asylum is also increasing significantly.”
Nearly 60,000 new asylum seekers were registered in Quebec in the first 11 months of 2023, which has put “very significant pressure” on services, the premier writes.
“Asylum seekers have trouble finding a place to live, which contributes to accentuating the housing crisis,” the letter said.
“Many end up in homeless shelters, which are overflowing.” He said organizations that help asylum seekers can’t keep up with demand. Legault said the children of asylum seekers are also straining schools that already have a shortage of teachers and space.
The premier reminded Trudeau that asylum seekers who are waiting for work permits receive financial assistance from Quebec. Last October, some 43,200 asylum seekers received $33 million in aid.
LeBlanc recognized Quebec’s contributions in his Thursday statement.
“During this period, we have put in place several measures to support the Quebec government in its efforts to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers by providing significant funding as well as renting blocks of rooms in several hotels,” he said.
“Between 2017 and 2020, we paid $374 million for services related to temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. This is in addition to the annual immigration transfers for reception and integration, which amount to more than $700 million, and the $3.6 billion granted annually through the Canada Social Transfer.”
Legault expressed particular concern over Mexican nationals, who he said represent a growing proportion of the asylum seekers coming to the province.
“The possibility of entering Canada from Mexico without a visa certainly explains part of the influx of asylum seekers,” he said.
“The airports, particularly in Toronto and Montreal, are becoming sieves and it is time to act,” he added.
Legault is formally asking the prime minister to tighten its policies around granting visas. He’s also seeking the “equitable” distribution of asylum seekers across Canada, possibly by busing them to other provinces.
He wants Ottawa to reimburse Quebec the $470 million it spent on taking in asylum seekers in 2021 and 2022, and to do the same for subsequent years.
“Quebec is no longer in a position to welcome a disproportionate share of the asylum seekers entering Canada,” he wrote in conclusion.
“This is an urgent matter of the utmost importance.”
LeBlanc said border security is a priority for the government.
“We are working with partners and examining measures to ensure the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. In addition, we are evaluating all possible measures to allow asylum seekers to travel to other provinces if they wish to do so,” he said.
“As the safety of Canadians is our top priority, we are working actively and tirelessly to ensure the security of our borders.”
On Tuesday, Trudeau reiterated his government’s commitment to welcome 500,000 new permanent immigrants per year by 2025.
However, he told the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal that his government wanted greater control over temporary immigration, such as international students and temporary workers, who he said have a bigger impact on the housing crisis.
Trudeau invited higher education institutions and companies to find their own housing solutions for these temporary residents.
— with files from The Canadian Press and Global News’ Sean Previl