Ottawa is setting up a processing centre for asylum seekers in Quebec to handle potential increases in refugee arrivals from the U.S.
Quebec: So, here’s the scoop. Canadian officials are gearing up to open a processing centre for asylum seekers close to the U.S. border in Quebec. They’re doing this just in case there’s a big jump in people looking to enter Canada.
Recently, the federal government put out a notice to find a place to lease. They need space for reception, meals, and a waiting area for about 200 folks at once.
The Canada Border Services Agency mentioned that this centre is part of their backup plan if there’s a surge in asylum seekers. They want to be ready for anything.
According to the notice, the building should be within 15 kilometers of the official border crossing in St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, which is just south of Montreal.
This announcement comes after Ottawa’s big $1.3 billion plan last December to boost border security. That was in response to former U.S. President Trump’s threats about tariffs unless Canada tightened up on migrants and drugs crossing the border.
Back in November, Quebec’s Premier, François Legault, expressed worries about a potential “massive influx of immigrants” because of Trump’s plans to deport migrants.
Interestingly, the Canada Border Services Agency noted that the daily average of people crossing from the U.S. to seek asylum in Canada has actually dropped. It’s down to about 109 claims a day, compared to 212 last year.
