Quebec premier says Ottawa should forcibly relocate half of asylum seekers
Legault said during a trip to Paris on Wednesday that he wants half of the asylum seekers currently in Quebec to be transferred elsewhere in the country.
Premier François Legault has called on the federal government to mandate the relocation of asylum seekers arriving in Quebec to other provinces, including individuals who have already settled in the province.
During a visit to Paris on Wednesday, Legault stated that he wants half of the asylum seekers currently in Quebec to be moved elsewhere in Canada.
He pointed out that Quebec receives about 45 percent of the country's asylum seekers, despite only representing 22 percent of the national population, which he believes is disproportionate.
While the federal government has expressed a desire for a more balanced distribution of asylum seekers across provinces, Immigration Minister Marc Miller's office has made it clear that Ottawa will not compel any provinces to take in more people.
Instead, Ottawa is offering financial incentives to provinces willing to assist and is warning that it may reduce the number of economic immigrants allotted to provinces that refuse to cooperate.
Legault also mentioned on Tuesday that his government has requested Ottawa to establish waiting zones for asylum seekers entering Canada, similar to the system in place in France.
