Initiative aims to assist asylum seekers from the United States, officials say
Last week, the Manitoba government announced that it will be funding emergency housing units aimed at providing temporary shelter for those who are illegally crossing the U.S.-Canada border through the province.
Officials said that over 400 asylum seekers have filtered into Manitoba over the past 10 months, and the funding is intended to ease the pressure on local resettlement organizations.
“This is a national issue, not solely one we are dealing with in Manitoba,” Premier Brian Pallister stated during a press conference on Thursday (February 23), as quoted by CBC News.
Pallister pledged $110,000 to resettlement agency Welcome Place for 2017-18. The funding will shoulder paralegal services and transportation expenses from border-town Emerson to Winnipeg.
In coordination with the Paramedic Association of Manitoba, the provincial government is also planning to designate primary care paramedics to Emerson, as many of the asylum seekers are exhausted and tend to suffer from the extreme cold.
A further $70,000 will boost the 2017-18 funding for a refugee response co-ordinator position with the Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations (MANSO).
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Officials said that over 400 asylum seekers have filtered into Manitoba over the past 10 months, and the funding is intended to ease the pressure on local resettlement organizations.
“This is a national issue, not solely one we are dealing with in Manitoba,” Premier Brian Pallister stated during a press conference on Thursday (February 23), as quoted by CBC News.
Pallister pledged $110,000 to resettlement agency Welcome Place for 2017-18. The funding will shoulder paralegal services and transportation expenses from border-town Emerson to Winnipeg.
In coordination with the Paramedic Association of Manitoba, the provincial government is also planning to designate primary care paramedics to Emerson, as many of the asylum seekers are exhausted and tend to suffer from the extreme cold.
A further $70,000 will boost the 2017-18 funding for a refugee response co-ordinator position with the Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations (MANSO).
Related stories:
Census 2016: Canada's big cities home to big share of 35 million Canadians
Cross-Canada market year in review
