Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador are ready to open their arms to more refugees to take the pressure off of Quebec – but only if the federal government chips in more money to support their efforts.
“We have the housing needs, the healthcare and social needs in Manitoba, and so … we really do need the federal government, who has the fiscal resources to be able to move the needle here, to do so,” Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew reportedly said.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey is also willing to shoulder a greater number of refugees.
Premiers call on Ottawa for more support for immigration
The two and other premiers and territorial leaders were in Halifax during the week of July 15 – 17 to discuss ways to work together on common challenges, including the distribution of asylum seekers throughout Canada and federal government assistance to support them.
“While the federal government is making efforts to improve the availability and affordability of housing, Canada’s housing crisis requires flexibility so funding programs respond to local and regional needs including all housing types,” the premiers noted in a statement.
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“Consideration must be given to the increasing and changing pressures on the demand for housing, including the impact of population growth, and the significant number of asylum seekers in some jurisdictions.”
While all Canadian provinces have long welcomed asylum seekers, the current housing affordability crisis throughout the country is leading many premiers to call for more help from Ottawa.
“Given the pressures on housing and the availability of programs and supports, premiers are calling on the federal government to expedite assessment of genuine asylum seekers entering Canada and to work with provincial and territorial governments to determine the appropriate number of accepted asylum seekers,” the premiers stated.
“Premiers support a fair distribution of asylum seekers across Canada corresponding to provincial and territorial capacity to provide housing and other support and services. The federal government must provide appropriate funding for these costs.”
Quebec can’t handle growing number of refugees, says premier
Quebec Premier François Legault, who has repeatedly lobbied Ottawa for more power over immigration and for more of that immigration to the francophone province consisting of French-speaking foreign nationals, wants to reduce the number of asylum seekers coming to his province.
“Clearly, we would like some to move to other provinces,” Legault reportedly said.
“Some provinces are open, others are not. But basically we have to reduce the number of people who are accepted.”
Legault is not the only premier to feel that way. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said this week her province is also feeling the strain of providing the necessary infrastructure to accommodate more asylum seekers.
“I’m finding Alberta is similar to where Quebec is at,” Smith reportedly said.
“We want to do our part, but I think that similar to Quebec, when one province is shouldering a larger burden than can very reasonably be accommodated with existing infrastructure, it puts pressure.”
Premier Doug Ford echoed those sentiments, saying Ontario and Quebec together receive the vast majority of refugees and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been too slow in issuing work permits for these newcomers.
“They want a better life. They want to work like everyone else, to contribute to society,” Ford reportedly said.
“We really need the support from the federal government.”
In Canada, the province of Quebec is unique in that it administers its own immigration programs which have separate selection criteria from those of other provinces and the federal government.
Quebec operates its own immigration system
The province has, for example, its own Expression of Interest immigration system to select candidates for the Quebec Skilled Worker program.
Candidates submit profiles via an online portal called Arrima, which is designed to allow candidates with the best credentials to get to the front of the line to maintain a continuous flow of new workers with profiles that meet the needs of Quebec businesses.
Foreign nationals wishing to settle permanently in Quebec must undergo a two-step immigration process.
First, they must be selected by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), the francophone province’s immigration department, and get a Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ).
This is an official document issued by Quebec immigration authorities to attest that the candidate has been selected by the province. It is not a visa, so it cannot be used to enter Canada.
Once the foreign national has his or her CSQ, the next step is to file a permanent residence application with IRCC within 24 months from the date the CSQ was issued.
The federal government’s role in evaluating a Quebec application for permanent residence is mainly limited to issues of health and criminality.
At this stage, an application will be submitted to IRCC, including police certificates and medical exams, when requested.
