Canadian laws will be enforced, says Trudeau as US asylum-seekers head north

OTTAWA, ON. (NEWS 1130) – The federal public safety minister is commending Canadian border towns, which have been dealing with an influx of asylum seekers from the United States with open arms.

More and more people have been resorting to crossing the border into Canada by foot, some putting their own lives and safety at risk.

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says Canadian law needs to be respected when it comes to refugees but adds the support that border towns have been giving to these people has been outstanding. “The people in local communities have been truly magnificent in the way that they have responded to this situation.”

He adds they’ve also responded with compassion and generosity.

The two opposition parties have different ideas of what the government should do about the situation. The Tories want to see border security beefed up, while the NDP wants to see the prime minister stand up to US President Donald Trump by ending the safe third country agreement with the US.

However, the prime minister didn’t commit to either as he faced questions in the House of Commons today. “We will continue to ensure that laws are enforced and followed and that we remain demonstrating the strength and the integrity of our immigration system. We will be welcoming, but we need to make it’s done properly.”

Manitoba has seen a spike in refugee claimants fleeing the US, and 23 asylum seekers turned up at the New Brunswick border last year, which is more than the previous four years combined.

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