Regina, SK – Andrew Scheer, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of Canada’s Conservatives, issued the following statement after the July 24 meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration:
“For well over a year, Conservatives have been pressing Justin Trudeau to fix the mess he has created at the Canadian border.
“Since he tweeted out #WelcomeToCanada last year, thousands of asylum seekers have crossed the border illegally into Canada from the United States. This has put tremendous pressure on the Canadian system as provinces scramble to find housing and other supports for the border crossers. It has also led to longer waits for refugees who are fleeing persecution and for those trying to immigrate to Canada legally.
“All along, Justin Trudeau has told Canadians that there is no problem at the border and that the situation is under control. But at Tuesday’s meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, his Liberal ministers failed to answer basic questions from Conservatives about the border situation.
“Liberal ministers were unable to say how many asylum seekers have entered Canada, how many more they expect, how they plan to handle them or what the full cost of this will be. The new Minister for Border Security even admitted he did not know what his job is.
“Canadians have lost their patience with the Trudeau Liberals’ failure to protect our border. It’s long past time our government shows Canadians a plan to deal with this mess.
“A Conservative government will regain control of our borders, prioritize refugees from the world’s most dangerous countries, and make sure that those who obey the law are treated fairly.”