British Columbia needs to step up and take on more asylum seekers who come to Canada, the federal immigration minister said Tuesday in response to criticism from the B.C. premier about funding for immigration settlement.
David Eby said Monday that B.C. and other Western provinces should get a share of the $750-million deal Ottawa recently struck with Quebec to help pay for settlement services.
He said he香蕉视频直播檚 frustrated to see Quebec and Ontario 香蕉视频直播渟howered香蕉视频直播� with federal cash to help cope with an influx of asylum seekers and temporary residents.
香蕉视频直播淚 think perhaps there was some confusion on the premier香蕉视频直播檚 behalf as to what this money was for. The suggestion was it was for temporary residents. That is absolutely not the case,香蕉视频直播� Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday.
He said the deal he struck with Quebec was to compensate that province for two years of high costs associated with a disproportionate number of asylum claimants. Quebec initially asked for $1 billion from Ottawa to cover the costs.
Government statistics show 65 per cent of asylum claimants arrived in Quebec last year, compared to just under two per cent in B.C.
香蕉视频直播淲e need provinces like British Columbia to step up when it comes to actually apportioning asylum seekers,香蕉视频直播� Miller said.
香蕉视频直播淚t doesn香蕉视频直播檛 come without financial support from the federal government.香蕉视频直播�
Miller said B.C. hasn香蕉视频直播檛 applied for any funds from a program to help asylum seekers access interim housing since 2019, 香蕉视频直播渟imply because the flows are off.香蕉视频直播�
There are 10,000 people coming to British Columbia every 37 days, Eby said Monday. Refugees have to stay in homeless shelters and international students don香蕉视频直播檛 have support, he said.
Eby said Canadians are seeing resources go to Ontario and Quebec 香蕉视频直播渁t the expense, in my opinion, of the West.香蕉视频直播�
He made the comments at a news conference after meeting with other Western premiers Monday, where he called for the divided on a per capita basis.
The funding agreement with Quebec, 香蕉视频直播渇rankly, is the straw that broke this camel香蕉视频直播檚 back,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Miller said he香蕉视频直播檚 open to speaking with the premier about the effects of immigration growth on B.C., but says those costs shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be confused with the cost of asylum services for those who arrive without resources.
Most people who arrive in B.C. come under economic programs and contribute to the province香蕉视频直播檚 capital by paying taxes, he said.
Several cabinet ministers who represent Quebec ridings agreed Tuesday that their government should discuss any growing pains B.C. is experiencing as a result of immigration, but said Quebec should be compensated for taking on such a large share of asylum seekers.
香蕉视频直播淚 have tremendous respect for Mr. Eby. The government of B.C. is a great ally of us,香蕉视频直播� Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said on his way into a cabinet meeting Tuesday.
香蕉视频直播淚 will be happy to talk to my colleagues to make sure that we have a conversation with this government as soon as possible.香蕉视频直播�
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