Canada
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Quebec announces $3.5 million in emergency funding for asylum seekers

Immigration Minister Christine Frechette said 60,000 asylum seekers came to Quebec last year via official or unofficial channels.

Centraide of Greater Montreal will steer funding to 22 targeted organizations that have seen their operations affected by the increase in the number of asylum seekers.
Centraide of Greater Montreal will steer funding to 22 targeted organizations that have seen their operations affected by the increase in the number of asylum seekers. Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

The Quebec government announced $3.5 million in emergency funding on Monday in response to a plea for help from community organizations swamped by the influx of asylum seekers entering Canada through Quebec.

A total of $3 million will come from the Quebec Labour Ministry to be used for the purchase of food, clothing and lodging.

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A total of $500,000 will be used to organize information sessions in Montreal, Laval, the Montérégie and the Quebec City area aimed at informing asylum seekers of the services available to them.

The financing will be managed by Centraide of Greater Montreal, which will steer funding to 22 targeted organizations that have seen their operations affected by the increase in the number of asylum seekers.

As well, Centraide will contribute $350,000 in funding for aid.

Last year alone, 90,000 asylum seekers entered Canada via Quebec — about 40 per cent of them at the irregular crossing site at Roxham Rd., according to Stephan Reichhold, director of the Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes (TCRI).

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Quebec Immigration Minister Christine Frechette said last year’s total was actually 60,000 asylum seekers who came to Quebec via official or unofficial channels.

The article was written with funding from the Meta and Canadian Press News Scholarships.