Quebec Premier Proposes ‘Waiting Zones’ in Canada for Asylum Seekers
Quebec Premier François Legault has requested Ottawa to establish “waiting zones” for asylum seekers, following the practice in France.
During a press conference in Paris today, Legault recommended that Canada should adopt similar measures to those in the European country.
With Quebec hosting 45 percent of asylum seekers in Canada, the premier urged the federal government to evenly distribute potential refugees across the nation.
In July, former Quebec immigration minister Christine Fréchette wrote to Ottawa, urging the establishment of a secure transition site to temporarily hold asylum seekers before dispersing them across Canada.
However, federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller criticized Legault, claiming he is leveraging immigration for political purposes and highlighting that the concept of waiting zones differs greatly from anything previously considered in Canada.
Upon arriving in France, asylum seekers can be placed in waiting zones for up to 26 days.
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