Province in discussion with feds about asylum seekers

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This article was published 21/02/2017 (2901 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After a long weekend in which 35 migrants crossed into Manitoba at Emerson, Premier Brian Pallister said his government continues to seek more help from the federal government to handle the influx of migrants.

“It’s a national challenge and a national issue,” Pallister said Tuesday.

“We have a letter going out with specific issues that we would like to see the federal government co-operatively address, and I have (calls) lined up later this week with other premiers to discuss the issue and co-ordinate our approaches in rspect of where we go from here.”

The premeir said he spoke with Emerson-Franklin Reeve Greg Janzen, telling him “we will continue to reach out and do everything we can.”

Pallister said he wouldn’t divulge details about the extra help under discussion, but “they will all be addressed.”

In a statement, RCMP said eight migrants crossed the international border on Friday, followed by 22 early Sunday and five early Monday.

RCMP said officers have intercepted 104 migrants since Jan. 1.

Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said Tuesday Canada has no plans to introduce legislation to stop the flow of asylum seekers.

The number of people fleeing the United States, largely from African countries originally, has jumped in recent weeks, following planned crackdowns on immigration in the U.S. The refugees have been crossing fields and ditches near border communities such as Emerson.

Pallister thanked the people of Emerson “for their patience and understanding” along with the Manitobans who have programs that offer support and housing for the migrants.

“It’s how Manitobans step up to address a challenge,” he said.

Meanwhile, Janzen said Tuesday there’s been a commendable increase in security in the Emerson area.

“The RCMP and the border patrol have gotten a handle on it,” he said. “Security has been picked up, for sure.”

Janzen said he still has not heard from federal government officials as to possible changes to the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, which prevents most who have been living in the U.S. from making a refugee claim at an official border crossing on the grounds they are already in a safe country.

Janzen has said he would support suspending the agreement to allow people to request refugee status at official border crossings so migrants would not have to risk their lives to illegally cross in dangerous weather conditions.

The safety of Emerson residents also needs to also be considered, he said.

“I still would like to talk to a couple of federal ministers and see where we’re going with this for the future. Is this our new normal? We just let them walk into our town or is there some changes in the works? We don’t want to see these people walking through town, just for the simple fact that we don’t know who they are and we’re supposed to be a secure border.

“These people that are desperately trying to cross the border, risking their lives, especially when it’s really cold out, their intentions are good, but as it warms up, is everyone’s intentions the same?”

 

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca