EDITORIAL: More federal folly on immigration
Article content
You have to hand it to former prime minister Justin Trudeau. It takes an industrial level of incompetence to turn a once efficient immigration system into a complete shambles.
This week, we learned the government has spent $1.1 billion on hotel bills for asylum seekers since 2017. That’s on top of another $1.5 billion the federal government paid to the provinces to house refugee claimants.
This came about as newcomers camped out on the streets of major cities, adding to this country’s worsening housing crisis.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the federal government is paying for 500 refugees in one hotel in Quebec and four in Ontario.
So why did the government pause the successful Private Sponsorship of Refugees program, through which private groups helped newcomers find housing, learn the language and settle into this country? Why throw money at hotels while at the same time shutting down community groups who were doing the same work?
Similarly, the federal government’s plan to welcome parents and grandparents of immigrants, who had previously expressed an interest in sponsoring family members, needs more discussion.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
EDITORIAL: More federal folly on immigration Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The newcomers will not be eligible for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or other retirement benefits. They will, however, need health care. We already have a homegrown “Silver Tsunami” — an aging population that’s putting enormous stress on the health-care system. If we import large numbers of elderly people, this could be a death knell.
In a post on X, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the federal immigration plan is “unsustainable, unfair and needs to be refocused to prioritize economic migrants.”
In a statement to The Canadian Press this week, Alberta’s Immigration Minister Joseph Schow expressed concern over the federal plan.
He said he understands the importance of family reunification, but “inviting large numbers of parents and grandparents into the country without proper coordination with provinces places disproportionate strain on already busy health systems.”
The federal government said it’s committed to reuniting as many families as possible. A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Lena Diab told CP that there are benefits to the program.
“Family reunification not only leads to social and cultural benefits but also economic benefits.”
At a time of great economic uncertainty, this is neither smart nor sustainable and should be reconsidered immediately.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.