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By The Canadian Press
Alberta

Smith pushing back on federal plan to bring asylum seekers to Alberta

Sep 12, 2024 | 6:20 PM

Premier Danielle Smith is pushing back against what she calls the federal government’s plan to ship tens of thousands of asylum claimants to Alberta.

Smith released a statement saying Alberta has always welcomed newcomers who possess shared values, and will continue to do so.

The premier says last year, Alberta welcomed more than 200-thousand people to the province equal to two “Red-Deer-sized cities.”

But Smith says excessive immigration is increasing the cost of living and straining public services for everyone.

The complete statement appears below:

“Alberta’s government is opposed to the federal government’s plan to relocate tens of thousands of asylum claimants to Alberta, especially without any financial assistance to support the province in doing so.

“Alberta has always welcomed newcomers who possess our shared values – and we will continue to do so.

“However, last year alone, an all-time record of over 200,000 people moved to Alberta. That’s like adding two new Red Deer-sized cities in just one year.

“Although Alberta represents only 11.8 per cent of the Canadian population, we are currently supporting approximately 22 per cent (over 70,000) of Ukrainian evacuees who arrived in Canada.

“Section 95 of the constitution is clear – immigration is an area of shared authority between the federal government and the provinces. Yet, the Trudeau government’s unrestrained open border policies permitting well over a million newcomers each year into Canada is causing significant challenges, and it’s simply not sustainable.

“Excessive levels of immigration to this province are increasing the cost of living and strains public services for everyone.

“We are informing the Government of Canada that until further notice, Alberta is not open to having these additional asylum seekers settled in our province.

“We simply cannot afford it.”

– with files from Curtis Galbraith and the Alberta government

by The Canadian Press