More resources helping to ease load as wave of refugees continues at Emerson: reeve

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This article was published 24/02/2017 (2615 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The incidents of asylum seekers coming across the Canadian border in Emerson – including another half dozen on Friday night – is getting so frequent local leaders are having difficulty keeping track of hard numbers.

But that’s not necessarily bad news, according to Greg Janzen, reeve of the Municipality of Emerson-Franklin.

Janzen estimated on Saturday that up to 60 refugee claimants crossed into Manitoba during the last week, accelerating a trend that began about eight weeks ago.

While the groups were larger at first, and only arriving on weekends, the border jumpers are coming at a faster rate, in smaller groups and on any given day of the week.

RCMP now only report the number of asylum seekers from the previous week every month, so figures have yet to be confirmed. But along with the 35 claimants over last weekend, there were nine on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, five on Wednesday night, 7-10 on Friday morning and the half-dozen Friday night.

“We’ve almost had somebody every day,” Janzen said.

The good news, however, is that the municipality is no longer being over taxed by responding to late night calls – unless it’s an emergency – or having to provide temporary shelter when larger groups of claimants arrive.

“I believe the border security (Canadian Border Services Agency) got more help, more resources, and they’re working on a more permanent solution,” he said. “Realistically, these bigger numbers have only been happening for two-and-a-half weeks now.

“For everyone to step up this quick – the (provincial) Conservative government, the (federal) Liberal government – is phenomenal to get this much reaction that quick.

“They don’t have enough staff yet, but there is more coming.”

The RCMP, meanwhile, have also bolstered security along the border.

“They’ve been very good,” Janzen said, of the increased RCMP and CBSA presence. “They’ve been in Emerson with unmarked vehicles. They’re not trying to run their sirens. They don’t want to scare the residents. They’ve been very conscientious…and doing a great job.”

Twitter: @randyturner15