Federal Government Response Criminalizes Asylum Seekers
Prime Minister Trudeau said in response to Quebec Premier François Legault's letter, "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." He 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."
Dominic Leblanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, said that his government is taking Quebec's concerns over an influx of asylum seekers "very seriously." Leblanc said that his government is "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 added that his government "has recognized on more than one occasion that Quebec has done more than its share in welcoming and integrating people who seek refuge in Canada."
The Public Safety Minister also noted that border security is a priority for his government and that he would "continue these discussions" with the Legault government and "take the necessary steps" to "secure our borders." For the government, the problem is seen as one of securing borders. For the peoples, evident in many actions, it is one of securing rights. Further, given the border is with the U.S., “securing” it also means further militarization and integration into the U.S. border and war machinery.
As for the Quebec government's financial demands, Minister Leblanc said that his government is "committed" to work with its Quebec counterpart "to find solutions to the challenges posed by the significant number of asylum seekers that Quebec receives."
"We understand that this brings with it a financial issue. That's why, for the past five or six years, we've been a partner for Quebec in terms of costs as well," he said.
Minister Leblanc also informed that the Liberal government had "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."
Between 2017 and 2020, he noted, his government had "paid $374 million for services related to temporary accommodation ... 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." Giving such figures is a means to hide the reality that the federal government is not meeting its duty to fully fund the rights of refugees and all to housing, education and health care. On the contrary, the anti-social offensive at both the federal and provincial levels has meant repeated cuts.
Minister Leblanc also spoke about avoiding having Mexico's visa-free access become "sort of a side door to get access to Canada." Immigration Minister Marc Miller said that although the loosening of visa policies has helped Canada's economy, it was also probably a factor in the rise of claims, even though the rate of Mexican applicants granted refugee status remains well below that of other countries.[1]
"Mexico is one of our principal economic partners," Miller said. "So any measures that we would take, we would contemplate, would require a diplomatic process that is not yet completed." Miller also informed that his government is looking into a number of options that remain unspecified, as disclosing them would only empower bad actors trying to "game the system."
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 14 - February 28, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54147.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca