Another record year for asylum seekers in Quebec, despite Roxham Road’s closure
Posted December 21, 2023 10:36 am.
Last Updated December 21, 2023 11:59 am.
The closure of Roxham Road has made asylum applications skyrocket and in November they surpassed the record set in 2022.
Data released Wednesday from Immigration and Citizenship Canada over the course of the year shows that Quebec welcomed 59,735 asylum seekers, compared to 51,635 for the same period in 2022, an increase of 16 per cent. For all of 2022, 58,805 asylum seekers arrived in Québec.
Quebec is still the main destination for asylum seekers, accounting for 46 per cent of Canada’s total claims. Ontario is the second most important destination, at 43 per cent.
In 2022, the neighbouring province received more than half as many applications as Quebec, at 26 per cent compared to 64 per cent. This year, they are almost tied.
It’s largely because of the mode of entry of applicants, who arrive in Canada by air rather than by land.
In Quebec, since the closure of Roxham Road, asylum claims have exploded at Montréal-Trudeau Airport: 2,780 in November 2023, compared to 1,420 in November 2022.
