8mo ago

Canadian police brace for 'worst-case scenario' of asylum-seekers fleeing Trump

www.reuters.com

reuters.com

Canada is already dealing with record numbers of refugee claimants: In July, almost 20,000 people filed refugee claims, according to Immigration and Refugee Board data -- the highest monthly total on record and driven by global displacement, advocates and experts told Reuters.
The number has since dipped, to about 16,400 in September, but remains historically high. There are more than 250,000 claims pending, according to the board.
Canada's government has slashed the number of permanent and temporary immigrants but has less control over how many people claim asylum.

16 comments

I intend to write to my MP pressing that we need to remain open to accepting those fleeing persecution in the US.
- Especially trans folks! They don’t deserve maga.
- Absolutely. Wish I could do the same.
  As a practical matter I expect it's less US citizens, or even those with green cards, who try to come over, and more folks who haven't yet obtained regular status in the US.
- Where will they go?
  
  Canada currently has over a million vacant homes. The housing crisis isn’t a lack of homes or even jobs… it’s purely a matter of inflated value vs income.
  
  Homes? Apartments? Dorms? The same places Canadians live? I'm not sure what the question you're asking is. Asylum seekers don't require special accommodations.
  
  GTA, Montreal, GVA, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, etc.
- More than a scientist can typically afford. See for yourself: https://www.realtor.ca/map#ZoomLevel=9&Center=49.328388%2C-122.943704&LatitudeMax=49.87486&LongitudeMax=-122.37516&LatitudeMin=48.77578&LongitudeMin=-123.51225&Sort=6-D&TransactionTypeId=2&PropertySearchTypeId=0&PropertyTypeGroupID=1&Currency=CAD&HiddenListingIds=&IncludeHiddenListings=false
- Vancouver is quite expensive, I'll be honest. If you are okay with a commute, you can live in surrey, Langley, or even abbotsford/chilliwack. Long commute to Vancouver, but anywhere from 10-30+% cheaper rent last I checked.
  Canada should be seen as a time-delayed America in a cultural+political sense. A thing that happens in america will generally occur in a similar manner 1-10 years later here. Our Liberal and NDP (Progressive) parties continually move further to the right at differing paces, and all of our parties & leaders have major issues (in differing amounts):
  Trudeau (LPC) is a proven corrupt man who has abandoned the working class more every time he shuts down a major strike (every major strike).
  Poilievre (CPC) is a less charismatic, cryptofascistic version of trump, and is very likely to win the next national elsction. This could be any time between tomorrow and Oct 20, 2025 and could be catastrophic for Canadians.
  Singh (NDP) is a very lovely man, but has a tendency to make decisions that give his party less bargaining power (See: canceling supply and trade agreement without trying to use it as a threat first)
- The average home in lower costal BC is (literally) a million dollars. Most of us have given up hope of buying here.
  Even second and third tier cities in BC aren't far behind, not nearly enough to justify the even scarcer services.
Could be good for Canada in the long run if educated workers, doctors, nurses, professors, researchers etc decide to move north.

16 comments