Quebec premier floats idea of ’waiting zones’ in Canada for asylum seekers
Legault told reporters during a press conference Tuesday in Paris that Canada should take inspiration from the European country.
Quebec Premier François Legault has called on Ottawa to establish "waiting zones" for asylum seekers, similar to the system in France. Speaking at a press conference in Paris on Tuesday, Legault suggested that Canada could learn from France’s approach to handling asylum seekers.
Legault emphasized that Quebec currently hosts 45 percent of asylum seekers in Canada and urged the federal government to ensure a more balanced distribution of these individuals across the country.
In July, former Quebec immigration minister Christine Fréchette wrote to Ottawa, proposing the creation of a secure transition site where asylum seekers could be held before being relocated throughout Canada.
However, federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller criticized Legault, accusing him of using immigration as a political tool. Miller stated that the concept of "waiting zones" is unlike anything Canada has considered.
In France, asylum seekers can be placed in waiting zones for a maximum of 26 days.
