Send this page to someone via email

Quebec is calling on the federal government to help with the growing number of asylum seekers entering Canada through non-designated ports of entry.

READ MORE: Montreal non-profits gearing up to help Haitian asylum seekers

Officials said Monday it is expecting about 400 people to cross the border through forests and wooded areas every day this summer — up from 250 each day last year.

#QC ministers saying more than 50% of all asylum seekers into Canada entering via Quebec. But many not staying in province. Wants fed govt to play its role “leadership”. Says feds need to do more financially to help. And with processing. pic.twitter.com/o0gq0Ija5T — Tim Sargeant (@tfsargeant) April 16, 2018

Quebec Immigration Minister David Heurtel explained 50.2 per cent of asylum seekers enter Canada via Quebec, but not many of them are staying in the province.

READ MORE: RCMP intercepted over 20,000 asylum seekers in 2017

He insists the federal government needs to do more to show “leadership” and help with both financing and processing.

Story continues below advertisement

WATCH BELOW: Beware of slumlords, warns NGO to Quebec asylum seekers

1:25 Beware of slumlords, warns NGO to Quebec asylum seekers Beware of slumlords, warns NGO to Quebec asylum seekers

The minister argued social and housing services in Quebec have been saturated, with almost triple the number of asylum seekers coming in so far this year compared to the same time last year.

READ MORE: Salvation Army seeks winter jacket donations for refugees not ready for Quebec winter

Heurtel said the province has made 1,850 temporary housing places available — but once it hits 85 per cent capacity, the province will be forced to tell the federal government that it can no longer process new arrivals in Quebec.

READ MORE: Feds brace for more irregular Quebec border crossings with meal plan, extra funding

Jean-Nicolas Beuze, UNHCR representative in Canada, insisted Monday that the termination of the temporary protection status (TPS) in the U.S., as well as “negative rhetoric,” are not responsible for the influx of asylum seekers to Canada.

Story continues below advertisement

#QC Immigration Minister Heurtel says as of April 24 — 1,850 temp housing places available for asylum seekers. But when it hits 85% occupancy rate (1,573)province will tell fed govt it will no longer process new arrivals in Quebec. pic.twitter.com/zCxtEh1BvS — Tim Sargeant (@tfsargeant) April 16, 2018

“Yes, it’s true that we had a higher number of Haitians coming over the summer, but Honduran and Salvadoran or the Mexican children or adolescents protected under the DACA have not come in increased number to Canada over the last year,” he said.

READ MORE: Canada can’t deport illegal foreigners as countries are refusing to take them

He added that “quite a large number” of the people coming into Quebec are simply passing through the U.S. on their way north.

WATCH BELOW: Olympic Stadium opens doors to asylum seekers

1:37 Olympic Stadium opens doors to asylum seekers Olympic Stadium opens doors to asylum seekers

“We do notice that quite a large number of them [Haitians] were only, again, going through the United States, spending only a few days, coming directly from Haiti or coming from other places such as Brazil,” Beuze said.

Story continues below advertisement

READ MORE: Irregular border crossings see slight increase in February

Heurtel will be heading to Ottawa on Wednesday to speak with officials at the federal level, adding he wrote a letter dated March 21 describing the situation, but has so far not received an answer.

READ MORE: Free eye screenings for newly arrived asylum seekers

In 2017, Quebec received 24,980 asylum seekers, an increase of 700 per cent from previous years.

WATCH BELOW: Canadian Army welcome asylum seekers at Lacolle border

2:15 Canadian Army welcome asylum seekers at Lacolle border Canadian Army welcome asylum seekers at Lacolle border

rachel.lau@globalnews.ca

Follow @rachel_lau