Canada is experiencing an unprecedented rise in inland asylum claims, with numbers approaching 100,000 in 2024 — nearly quadruple the figures from just three years ago — as newly revealed government documents show staggering costs associated with housing asylum seekers.
According to a March 2024 ministerial response, the government spends $140 per night for each hotel room and $84 daily per person for meals to house asylum claimants. This amounts to approximately $81,760 annually per person in accommodation and meal costs alone, potentially leading to billions in annual expenditures given current claim volumes.
The government faces mounting challenges, including a 260,000-case refugee backlog and growing public concern about immigration’s impact on housing affordability. The substantial costs of housing asylum claimants add further pressure to an already strained system.
Read: Canada Sees Record-High Surge of Asylum Claims Filed by International Students
Giving in to mounting pressure to address domestic concerns while maintaining Canada’s humanitarian obligations, Ottawa has announced plans to reduce both permanent and temporary immigration.
The government recently launched a $250,000 advertising campaign warning potential asylum seekers about the difficulties of making successful claims in Canada — a striking contrast to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2017 “#WelcomeToCanada” message to refugees.
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