There is “urgency to act” because a return of Donald Trump to the White House could increase the influx of asylum seekers to Canada, François Legault says.
HALIFAX — François Legault managed to obtain a common front from the provinces on Tuesday: they all demand a “fair distribution” of asylum seekers based on the capacity of each province and territory to provide housing and services.
And there is “urgency to act” because a return of Donald Trump to the White House could increase the influx of asylum seekers, Legault said.
At a news conference at the end of the day, however, he refused to say which provinces would agree to receive more.
“I don’t want to reveal the private discussions we had, but there is an openness among certain provinces. It is certain that many provinces are already worried about the lack of housing, but it is a question of fairness,” he said.
Alberta and British Columbia responded earlier in the day that they already had their hands full.
It is an “acute” problem in Quebec, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told journalists earlier in the afternoon.
She added that she feels sympathy for Quebec, but “we feel a similar type of pressure,” she said.
British Columbia Premier David Eby also argued that his province was doing more than its share in welcoming immigrants, and is seeking equal funding.
“I completely support the idea that Quebec receives federal support to support these people who are arriving in such a state of vulnerability,” Eby said. “What I do not support is that the program is not available nationally and is only available for one province.”
Legault said he believes that transfers of asylum seekers from Quebec to other provinces could take place in the coming months.
He recalled that the federal minister of immigration, Marc Miller, had suggested that as of August, there “should be results” in the federal efforts already undertaken to ease the pressure on the Quebec.
“There is an urgency for us to act,” Legault said, mentioning risks in the event of the re-election of Republican candidate Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States in November.
“A possible election could further increase the number of asylum seekers” in Canada, Legault said.
Postmedia News contributed to this report.