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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 270

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
January 29, 2024 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 270 - Jan/29/24
Mr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean, BQ)
  • Jan/29/24 2:42:15 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is a new year, but the same problems remain at the federal level. Quebec is overwhelmed from welcoming asylum seekers. We welcomed more than 65,000 people in 2023. That is 45% of the total for Canada as a whole, when we represent 22% of the population. That is a lot more than our fair share. Quebec is reaching a breaking point. Those are not our words. The Premier of Quebec said so in a letter dated January 17 addressed to the Prime Minister of Canada. When will the federal government ensure that the provinces are welcoming their fair share of asylum seekers?
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Context: House Hansard - 270 - Jan/29/24
Mr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean, BQ)
  • Jan/29/24 2:43:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would invite all of the political parties to be mindful when they talk about immigration. The immigration minister already has one strike against him. At this point, one would think that the Liberals would have learned that when they fail to address problems, they never get resolved. They only get worse. When the House recessed in December, the federal government owed Quebeckers $460 million for taking in asylum seekers for whom Ottawa is responsible. Not only did the federal government do nothing, but it told us that it was not an ATM. As a result, the bill is now up to $470 million. When will the government reimburse Quebec?
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Context: House Hansard - 270 - Jan/29/24
Mr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean, BQ)
  • Jan/29/24 2:44:18 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is better already. Quebec is also demanding that the federal government reinstate visas for Mexicans. Since the Liberals suspended visas, the number of refugee claims by Mexicans has risen from 110 in 2015 to 24,000 last year. Most of these applications are denied, meaning that the majority of these people are not refugees. Worse still, we know that these people can be trafficked by Mexican criminal groups that have a strong presence at Canada's borders. They are being exploited. Will the minister reinstate visas for Mexicans?
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