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MONTREAL — The Quebec government says it is facing the prospect of even more asylum seekers entering the province from the United States this year and wants the federal government to come up with a plan to deal with the influx.

The number so far this year has tripled to 6,074 from about 2,000 during the same period in 2017 and is forecast to increase significantly this summer, Immigration Minister David Heurtel said Monday.

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“Even the numbers we’re getting from the federal government show us that the situation is different, there’s going to be more asylum seekers, so we need a new plan,” he said.

Heurtel said projections suggest there will be up to 400 crossings a day this summer, compared to 250 in 2017.

He noted that the ball is in Ottawa’s court and that he will meet with federal officials Wednesday to discuss the matter.

The province said in addition to front-line services, there are other costs like health care and education that are stretched thin.