With more than half of asylum seekers staying on its territory, Quebec has had to provide services worth more than $1 billion in three years, notably opening reception classes and providing emergency assistance.
In mid-January, Prime Minister François Legault wrote to his federal counterpart warning him that Quebec was struggling to meet demand. A month later, this capacity was exceeded, says the immigration minister.
“It is high time for the federal government to act to stem the massive influx of asylum seekers; We must relieve our public services as quickly as possible. “I repeat, our absorption capacity has its limits and we are at a breaking point,” explained Christine Fréchette in a press release on Tuesday.
For 2023, the cost of the basket of services for the 160,651 asylum seekers in the territory of Quebec will be $576.9 million. A bill that comes on top of the $470 million bill that Ottawa had requested for the previous two years.
“The recent federal announcement to reserve $150 million for Quebec for spending in 2023 is clearly inadequate and disrespectful to Quebec's efforts to support the various networks that provide services to asylum seekers,” the press release said the government. Legault.
Among the services offered, Quebec says it has 1,237 reception classes, “which is the equivalent of almost 52 primary schools.” “It is not up to us, the government of Quebec or the taxpayers of Quebec to foot this bill,” says the Legault government.
“As for recent assistance, the total amounts paid to asylum seekers increased from $163 million to approximately $370 million between 2022 and 2023, an increase of 127%,” the press release continued.
A press conference by the Ministers of Immigration, Education, Social Solidarity and French Language is currently taking place.
More details to follow.