immigrantscanada.com

Independent topical source of current affairs, opinion and issues, featuring stories making news in Canada from immigrants, newcomers, minorities & ethnic communities' point of view and interests.

Housing Crisis: Asylum Seekers and Ontario Families

housing crisis: Ahmed Hussen, the federal minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, told a news conference Monday he believes Ford's vocabulary is inaccurate, according to National Observer. I'm very concerned by Premier Ford and provincial minister Lisa Mac Leod really making statements that are difficult to understand when it comes to how they're describing asylum seekers, Hussen told reporters in Halifax. Last week, a spokesman for Premier Doug Ford used the term in a statement sent to the media, saying the recent influx of asylum seekers has resulted in a housing crisis in Toronto and threats to services that Ontario families depend on. ; On Monday, an emailed statement sent to The Canadian Press from Ford's office repeated the illegal border crossers terminology. These are people who we have a legal obligation to give a fair hearing to, and so we're applying Canadian law, we're applying international law and that requires all levels of government to work together. However, according to the federal Customs Act, those seeking asylum in Canada have that right to do so under the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention. The act of crossing the border at a point other than an official port of entry is illegal. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.