Minister urges B.C. to increase support for asylum claims

British Columbia should take in more asylum seekers arriving in Canada, according to the federal immigration minister. This statement came on Tuesday as a response to B.C. Premier David Eby’s criticism regarding funding for immigration settlement.

Eby stated on Monday that B.C. and other Western provinces deserve a portion of the recent $750-million deal that Ottawa made with Quebec for settlement services.

Eby expressed frustration over Quebec and Ontario receiving significant federal funds to manage the influx of asylum seekers and temporary residents.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller clarified on Tuesday that the funding for Quebec was not for temporary residents but to cover two years of high costs due to a large number of asylum seekers in the province. Quebec initially requested $1 billion from Ottawa for these expenses.

Government data indicates that last year, 65% of asylum seekers arrived in Quebec, while B.C. received just under 2%.

"We need provinces like British Columbia to step up in handling asylum seekers," Miller emphasized, adding that this effort would include financial support from the federal government.

Miller mentioned that B.C. hasn’t requested funds from a federal program for interim housing for asylum seekers since 2019 due to lower numbers of arrivals.

Premier Eby highlighted that 10,000 people come to B.C. every 37 days, leading to refugees staying in homeless shelters and a lack of support for international students. Eby criticized the allocation of resources to Ontario and Quebec, stating it disadvantages Western provinces.

During a news conference with other Western premiers on Monday, Eby called for funding to be distributed on a per-capita basis. He described the Quebec funding agreement as "the straw that broke the camel’s back."

Miller expressed willingness to discuss the impact of immigration on B.C. but stressed that costs related to asylum seekers should not be confused with the costs associated with other immigrants, who often contribute economically through taxes.

Premier Eby did not respond to requests for comments on Tuesday.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also addressed the costs of settling newcomers at the Western Premiers’ Conference, advocating for federal funds to support Alberta’s efforts.

Several Quebec cabinet ministers acknowledged that B.C.’s concerns should be addressed but maintained that Quebec deserved compensation for handling a significant share of asylum seekers.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault expressed respect for Eby and the B.C. government, stating his readiness to discuss these issues with his colleagues and B.C. officials as soon as possible.