Quebec Premier François Legault has proposed the implementation of “waiting zones” in Canada for asylum seekers, in an effort to address the ongoing influx of irregular border crossings.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Legault suggested that these waiting zones could be located in various regions across the country, including Quebec, Ontario, and the Maritimes. The idea behind these zones is to provide a designated area for asylum seekers to wait while their claims are being processed, rather than allowing them to enter the country and potentially disappear into the population.
According to Legault, this proposal is in response to the increasing number of asylum seekers crossing into Canada from the United States. In 2017, over 20,000 asylum seekers entered Canada through irregular border crossings, and this number has continued to rise in recent years.
The Premier also expressed concerns about the strain that these irregular crossings are putting on the province’s resources, particularly in terms of housing and social services. He believes that implementing waiting zones would help alleviate this strain and ensure that asylum seekers are properly processed and supported.
However, this proposal has been met with criticism from refugee advocates and human rights groups. They argue that waiting zones would only prolong the already lengthy and complex asylum process, and could potentially violate the rights of asylum seekers.
In response, Legault stated that the waiting zones would only be temporary and that asylum seekers would still have access to legal aid and other support services while they wait. He also emphasized that this proposal is not meant to discourage immigration, but rather to ensure that the process is fair and orderly.
The federal government has yet to comment on Legault’s proposal, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously stated that Canada has a responsibility to uphold its international obligations to protect refugees.
As the debate over immigration and asylum seekers continues, it remains to be seen if Legault’s proposal will be implemented and how it will impact the current situation at the Canadian border.
