After Dough Ford was elected as the premier of Ontario, various immigration, refugee and settlement agencies were in worry regarding the immigration policy that Mr. Ford was going to adopt. And the sign of relief emerged when Federal Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen issued a statement that he was ready to work on the issue of Immigration Policy Of The Provincial Government Of Ontario with Mr. Ford.
Especially, after the news of Lisa MacLeod to be in charge of immigration and citizenship of the provincial government of Ontario, it is apprehended that Ahmed Hussen will take on the issue with her.
Ahmed Hussen is ready to discuss the matter with Lisa MacLeod, who will be in-charge of immigration and citizenship in Ford’s cabinet
After the meeting took place with Lisa MacLeod, Federal Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen briefed the press saying that he was ready to work with the Ford government on the issue and it is the only way to meet the confusions since immigration responsibilities are shared jointly between the federal and provincial/territorial governments under Canada’s constitution. The Ottawa-area MPP Lisa MacLeod will be in charge of citizenship and immigration in the provincial Ontario Government along with children, social services, and women’s issues. Hussen has already welcomed her in a task force on irregular migration along with the Mayor of Toronto and the provincial government representative from Quebec Hussein has already issued a statement welcoming the appointment of MacLeod. He also stated that the federal government was willing to assist Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba with some of the costs that they had incurred as a result of the unusual movement, influx of asylum seekers.
The policy of Douglas Ford could be a great disappointment for the refugees and immigrants
As Ford Government has already dropped a few policies adopted by the previous government immediately after taking the office, the refugee agencies are worried about tough stands of the government regarding the immigrant issue. Ford did not assure that he would maintain the immigration deal signed by the previous government. He has already shown his eagerness to block all irregular migration at the border until the federal government changes its Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S.
The existing provisions of this agreement have triggered a flood of asylum seekers who crossed Canada’s border illegally. On the other hand, the refugee lawyers have been asking the government to end its cooperation with the U.S. The Trudeau government has already said in this regard that they are open to “modernizing” the deal as it represents the toughness of the Immigration Policy Of The Provincial Government Of Ontario.
The fate of the refugees and immigrants are now totally depending on Ford
The refugee and immigration agencies are for the first time experiencing that Ontario no longer has a ministry dedicated to immigrants and refugees. It can badly impact the funds of the ministry which are greatly beneficial for the welfare of the refugees. Everybody is therefore now looking for Hussein hoping if he can bring some rays of hope for the refugees who are awaiting in great trouble and distress in the US-Canada border after the policy disaster of Donald Trump.