Quebec Premier Proposes 'Waiting Zones' for Asylum Seekers in Canada
François Legault urges Ottawa to adopt French-style zones to better distribute asylum seekers across provinces.
- Quebec Premier François Legault has called on the federal government to establish 'waiting zones' for asylum seekers, similar to those in France.
- Legault argues that Quebec currently hosts 45% of Canada's asylum seekers, despite only making up 22% of the national population.
- The proposed zones would hold asylum seekers temporarily before they are distributed to other provinces.
- Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller criticized the proposal, accusing Legault of using immigration for political purposes.
- Former Quebec immigration minister Christine Fréchette previously requested a secure transition site for asylum seekers in a letter to Ottawa in July.