Quebec Immigration Minister repeats threat to cut social assistance to asylum seekers

Due to the “steady influx of a large number of asylum seekers” into Quebec, Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge has reiterated his threat to cut off their social assistance if Ottawa does not reimburse the province for the associated expenses. However, he refuses to say when he will carry out his threat.

“When people have their work permits and months go by, they remain on social assistance, they don’t have jobs, they have trouble putting down roots here, and eventually, the Quebec government will significantly reduce social assistance so that these people are encouraged to go to another province,” the minister explained at a press conference on Thursday morning.

The minister said he wants to take into account the fact that asylum seekers have children.

According to Roberge, Quebec is too “attractive” for its capacity to receive refugees.

For 2024, the government estimates that the costs incurred by asylum seekers will amount to $733 million, including $500 million for social assistance alone.

Roberge did not want to comment on the details and timing of when he will begin cutting off funding to asylum seekers.

The immigration minister has sent a letter to his federal counterpart to voice his concerns.

In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by La Presse Canadienne, he urges Ottawa to continue “its efforts to strengthen its ability to effectively distinguish genuine applicants and to implement measures to tighten visa issuance policy in order to prevent arrivals in Canada under false pretenses.”

The minister also asks the federal government to “implement concrete measures to promote the equitable distribution of these newcomers within Canada.”

‘I find that unfortunate‘

Opposition parties in Quebec have denounced the approach advocated by the government. 

“To say ‘we’re going to cut aid’. Are we going to put the poor people in the street to put pressure on the federal government because Legault isn’t able to do his job? No!” declared Liberal MNA Marc Tanguay. 

“To put the well-being of asylum seekers, and the most vulnerable people in society, at risk – and we also saw that it mainly concerned supplements for children – that, I find irresponsible. I find it unfortunate,” said Québec solidaire MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard. 

“I don’t think that people who are already vulnerable should suffer more. (…) The solution, in our view, is to accelerate the processing for asylum seekers,” argued PQ MNA Pascal Bérubé. 

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews