Quebec's math on asylum seekers doesn't add up, immigration experts say
"The government should really appreciate that they are just talking about the numbers that are coming in, but definitely a lot are not staying."
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"The government should really appreciate that they are just talking about the numbers that are coming in, but definitely a lot are not staying."
Despite Canada's efforts to slow the stream of asylum seekers across its borders, refugee claims in the country have only risen. The phenomenon is no better illustrated than at the Montreal airport, where the number of asylum seekers attempting entry has exploded five-fold since 2019.
A deal Canada struck this year to stem the flow of asylum seekers entering from the U.S. was, at first glance, a quick success: Within days, the number of people caught at unofficial crossings along the border dwindled to a trickle. But five months later, the overall number of people filing refugee claims in Canada has risen instead of falling.
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A deal Canada struck this year to stem the flow of asylum seekers entering from the U.S. was, at first glance, a quick success: Within days, the number of people caught at unofficial crossings along the border dwindled to a trickle. But five months later, the overall number of people filing refugee claims in Canada has risen instead of falling. The numbers show how hard it is for countries to shut the door on desperate people and the challenge unexpected numbers of asylum seekers can pose: In Toronto, hundreds slept on the streets this summer as they struggled to find beds.