Quebec premier floats idea of ‘waiting zones’ in Canada for asylum seekers

PARIS — Quebec Premier François Legault says his government has asked Ottawa to set up “waiting zones” for asylum seekers, as is the practice in France.

Legault told reporters during a press conference today in Paris that Canada should take inspiration from the European country.

The premier says Quebec is home to 45 per cent of asylum seekers in Canada, and wants the federal government to better distribute would-be refugees across the country.

Former Quebec immigration minister Christine Fréchette sent a letter to Ottawa in July calling on the government to set up a secure transition site to hold asylum seekers before they are transferred around Canada.