Canada: a record number of asylum seekers, but few means
Migrants preparing to cross the Canadian border, in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec, Wednesday, January 12.
AP-Wilson Ring
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
A record number of asylum seekers arrived in Canada in 2022, just under 100,000. Nearly two-thirds of these people end up in Quebec, even though this province represents less than a quarter of the Canadian population.
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With our correspondent in Quebec
,
Pascale Guéricolas
Faced with an influx of refugees, often destitute, immigrant aid organizations are crying out.
They demand more resources, but also a relaxation of the rules to better accommodate this vulnerable population.
Access to resources difficult
In theory, asylum seekers who arrive in Quebec benefit from free services to learn the language, find housing, draft the documents to obtain refugee status.
Except that the influx of recent months makes access to resources much more difficult.
Somehow, associations in the community, especially in Montreal, are trying to meet the needs.
Except that they lack financial means, in particular to help them become French.
“
When you don't have the language, which is French, you can't have a job, that's for sure.
Now, speak French, then no!
We closed the classes because there are no teachers.
It's just ridiculous
,” says a social worker.
Harmful administrative disputes
Another problem is the administrative disputes between the governments of Quebec and Canada which limit the type of service to which asylum seekers are entitled.
Together, the aid organizations are therefore calling on the authorities to finally get involved in a humanitarian crisis, the scale of which could still increase.
►Also read: Quebec: asylum seekers faced with a lack of services
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Canada
International Migrations
Immigration
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Quebec