Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has declared that her province will not accept any more asylum seekers without substantial financial support from Ottawa.
Justin Trudeau pictured (left)
Smith’s statement comes in the wake of a proposed federal initiative to distribute asylum claimants across Canada, aiming to alleviate pressures on provinces like Quebec and Ontario.
“Alberta has always welcomed newcomers who possess our shared values – and we will continue to do so,” Smith said.
She added: “Last year alone, an all-time record of over 200,000 people moved to Alberta. That’s like adding two new Red Deer size cities in just one year.”
Smith further said her opposition to the redistribution plan is not just about numbers but also fairness.
“Although Alberta represents only 11.8% of the Canadian population, we are currently supporting approximately 22% (over 70,000) of Ukrainian evacuees who arrived in Canada,” she said.
The Premier’s stance echoes sentiments from New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs, who also expressed frustration over the federal government’s plans to send 4,600 asylum seekers to his province without additional funding.
