Christinne Muschi/Reuters A young refugee from Angola (L) searches with a friend for his father at Olympic stadium, one of the temporary centers housing new asylum seekers entering into Canada in Montreal August 7, 2017.

MONTREAL — A spokesman for Quebec's employment minister says the provincial government will hand out welfare cheques to several thousand asylum seekers next week.

Simon Laboissonniere says an estimated 4,000 people will get money for the month of September.

The minimum basic monthly payment will be $623, while there will be an additional sum depending on the recipient's family status.

The three-day operation will take place at Montreal's Palais des congres convention centre, beginning next Wednesday.