Average of 15 people a day were being held between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2022
The Alberta government is ending an agreement to hold federal immigration detainees in provincial jails
The province says that written notice has been given to the federal government that it is ending an agreement with the Canada Border Services Agency to use provincial correctional centres to house people being detained on immigration matters
The federal government has until the end of June to come up with alternative arrangements
Alberta says that between April 1 and Oct. 31 last year, the number of immigration detainees in provincial facilities averaged 15 people a day
Mike Ellis, Alberta’s minister of public safety and emergency services, said the change is in response to concerns about using correctional facilities to hold people who haven’t been charged with a criminal offence or convicted of one
Ellis said people who come to Canada for a new life deserve a better welcome than a jail cell while paperwork is sorted out
That is why we are also calling on all provinces to join us in ending this practice
he said in a statement Wednesday
Two other provinces have already announced the end of their contracts with CBSA. British Columbia was the first to do so in July 2022
A review brought to light that aspects of the arrangement do not align with our government’s commitment to upholding human-rights standards
B.C. Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth said at the time
Nova Scotia followed suit in September
The Canadian Press with files from CBC
