Canada asylum pressures may bring political friction

Subject

Asylum-seekers and Canada.

Significance

After an uptick in asylum claims in recent months, including via the United States, asylum policy is likely to feature more heavily in Canadian state and federal politics.

Impacts

• New migrant flows to Canada will likely be triggered as the US government reduces its grants of Temporary Protected Status.
• Quebec’s government will face off against the Ottawa federal government over responsibility for new migrant arrivals.
• Ottawa and Washington will likely eventually update the Safe Third Country Agreement, but this could require bargaining.
• Canada may invest more in border policing and associated technologies.