March 18, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Quebec, QC – Today, Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the Hon. Peter Kent, Conservative Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, released the following statement regarding illegal border crossers entering Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic:

“Canada’s Conservatives have repeatedly raised concerns with the Trudeau government’s handling of illegal border crossers, particularly at Roxham Road. Our immigration system must be fair and compassionate and operate in an orderly, planned and safe manner.

“This morning, Canadians learned about new measures that will close the Canada-US border to all non-essential travel. Last week, the government implemented travel restrictions to prohibit the entry of foreign travelers into Canada, as well as prohibitions on Canadians from boarding Canada-bound flights if they exhibited symptoms of COVID-19.

“The health and safety of all Canadians must be the government’s top priority. That is why Conservatives have already called on the government to implement a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period for all travelers returning to Canada, and for those illegal border crossers at Roxham Road already in Canada to be processed at the Lacolle facilities.

“Conservatives also believe that when the government closes our border to foreign travellers, it must be closed to all foreign travellers including those crossing illegally at places like Roxham Road to make asylum claims. The loophole that currently allows illegal border crossers to enter Canada at illegal border crossings, while other travellers are being turned away, undermines the health and safety of Canadians and puts an unnecessary burden on the system that Canadians rely on to keep them safe.

“Conservatives are calling on the government to close illegal border crossings and work with American counterparts to ensure all necessary measures – including closing the longstanding loopholes in the Safe Third Country Agreement – are in place to keep both Canadians and Americans healthy and safe during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“Conservatives will continue to use our strengthened Opposition to press the government for a stronger response to COVID-19 and for the answers Canadians deserve.”