Quebec to Receive $750 Million from Federal Government for Increase in Temporary Immigrants

Ottawa has announced that it will provide Quebec with $750 million to assist with the increase in temporary immigrants to the province. Additionally, they have committed to expediting asylum claims processing and improving the distribution of refugees across the country.

The announcement was made by federal officials on June 10 during a meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault in Quebec City. This comes in response to Premier Legault’s requests for Ottawa to reduce the number of temporary immigrants in the province and cover the associated costs of housing and caring for them and their families.

While Mr. Legault had initially asked for $1 billion to cover expenses from 2021 to 2023, he received $750 million from Ottawa. However, the premier has yet to receive a definitive number from Mr. Trudeau regarding the reduction of asylum seekers and other temporary immigrants.

“What is crucial is to significantly and promptly decrease the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec,” stated Mr. Legault. “While the federal government acknowledges the issue, they recognize the need for quick and substantial action in the short term. Yet, they are hesitant to provide specific figures.”

Mr. Legault has expressed concerns that the 560,000 temporary immigrants in Quebec, a figure that has nearly doubled in two years, are straining social services and posing a threat to the French language’s future. He aims to halve the number of asylum seekers in the province.

During a separate press conference, Mr. Trudeau mentioned that he requires a plan from Mr. Legault before committing to a specific reduction target.

“Quebec has direct or indirect control over more than half of temporary immigrants in Quebec,” stated Mr. Trudeau. “Therefore, if Quebec wishes to reduce immigration, they must present a plan to adjust their numbers to meet their needs. That is what I have asked of Mr. Legault.”

Mr. Trudeau cautioned against solely blaming immigration for housing shortages and social services strain, emphasizing the complexity of these issues.

In addition to the $750 million contribution, Ottawa is focusing on accelerating asylum claims processing and collaborating with other provinces to redistribute refugees across the country, as outlined in federal documents.

Since 2017, Quebec has welcomed over 230,000 asylum seekers, constituting 50.7 percent of all refugee arrivals in Canada, while Quebec constitutes only 22 percent of the Canadian population, as per the Quebec Immigration Department.

The federal government’s goal is to process at least 20 percent of asylum claims within nine months, aiming to reduce the current average processing time of 18 months, according to distributed documents by federal officials.

Ottawa also commits to enhancing the country’s visa system integrity and ensuring that more temporary foreign workers are proficient in French. The government aims to issue work permits to asylum seekers within 30 days of arrival by October, a significant improvement from the current timeframe exceeding 100 days.

“We have proposed expedited processing of asylum claims, transferring individuals to other provinces, enhancing the visa system, and expediting removals for unsuccessful claims to alleviate pressure on Quebec,” stated Mr. Trudeau.