(ID 305710173 © Beth Baisch | Dreamstime.com)

By Canadian Press

Premier Smith: Alberta, “cant afford,” and, “not open,” to additional asylum seekers

Sep 12, 2024 | 5:58 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 200,000 people to the province equal to two, “Red-Deer-sized cities.”

“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,” Smith said.

“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.”

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

(The Canadian Press)

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