N.L. 'happy to play a part' in taking in asylum seekers with federal support: Furey

In response to a recent national newspaper report, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey says the province is prepared to take in just under 200 asylum seekers, not thousands.

Furey was responding to a news release from the provincial Progressive Conservative opposition that suggested the Liberal government was considering accepting asylum seekers without securing federal funding first.

Furey told reporters Friday he would be "happy to play a part" in taking more people into the province, if the federal government provided the support. 

"I'm disappointed to see that people would be playing politics with vulnerable people," Furey said. "It's a far cry from the 4,000 others are suggesting."

"We have been asked to look at 190 asylum seekers, we would be welcome to work with the federal government to take some of those, provided that there are the right supports in place," he said.

The PC release cited "a recent report from the National Post disclosed a federal briefing document indicating that Newfoundland and Labrador, which currently has 291 asylum seekers, could see that number jump to over 3,000 under the Trudeau Liberal plan."

There has been pressure on Ontario and Quebec to move asylum seekers across the country. New Brunswick was asked by the federal government Wednesday to take in more asylum seekers, raising questions about the province's capacity to do so, which is what prompted the PC news release on Thursday.  

"Under the Furey Liberals, our health care, education and housing systems are already overburdened with growing waitlists," said PC Leader Tony Wakeham in the news release.

Furey refuted PC claims that he would accept so many asylum seekers without the proper funding. 

"We have always taken more refugees than allocated proportionally when you look at other provinces, and that comes with a different funding model," said Furey. "We've been arguing with the federal government that it should come with more supports."

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