Sask. won't take asylum seekers if Ottawa attempts to relocate them
The Government of Saskatchewan has said it will not accept asylum seekers under a recent federal proposal to relocate them across Canada.
Currently, the majority of the 235,000 are in Ontario and Quebec – but the two provinces are having difficulty coping with the large number.
Ottawa wants all provinces to accept a share but a growing number of provinces are resisting.
Saskatchewan is one of them.
"No, I mean what we have said all the way along is that regular and lawful immigration is something that we are open to and beyond open to,” Trade and Economic Development Minister Jeremy Harrison.
“That's something that we've encouraged and I think has been a great benefit to the province. That's what we want to continue on that path."
Saskatchewan's share under the federal proposal would be about 7,000 people. The asylum seekers are primarily from Mexico, India and Nigeria.
"I would be concerned. I'm not sure that the public are fully supportive of those who perhaps have claimed asylum on some spurious grounds,” Harrison added.
A growing list of provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are taking issue with the idea.
"It's not fair to the asylum seekers to move them around the country into areas that are not able to manage," New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said.
Ottawa says there are levers that it could use with the provinces. Saskatchewan says it's willing to talk but believes Ottawa should not attempt to solve its problems on the backs of provinces.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Live updates: As Hurricane Milton makes landfall, nearly 1.3 million customers are without power in Florida
The Category 2 storm has left 1,280,000 homes and businesses without power in Florida as Milton pummels through the state.
Company must refund $1-million deposit after failing to complete West Vancouver home on time, court rules
A West Vancouver company has been ordered to repay a homebuyer's $1-million deposit after it failed to complete construction on the property in time.
Did John Rustad witness an overdose death on his way to the B.C. leaders' debate?
During the campaign, BC Conservative Leader John Rustad has repeatedly said people are "dying on the streets" in the province – and on Tuesday he claimed to have witnessed that very thing in downtown Vancouver while he was on his way to the leaders' debate.
Washington state woman calls 911 after being hounded by up to 100 raccoons
Sheriff's deputies in Washington's Kitsap County frequently get calls about animals -- loose livestock, problem dogs. But the 911 call they received recently from a woman being hounded by dozens of raccoons swarming her home near Poulsbo stood out.
video
video Why are there cars in the Detroit River?
Dozens of cars were pulled out of the Detroit River in west Windsor on Tuesday, causing many questions for Windsorites.
Biden, Harris condemn storm misinformation ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall
President Joe Biden warned on Wednesday that Hurricane Milton carried incredible destructiveness and urged people to take safe shelter while condemning misinformation about the storm as un-American.
Hundreds of thousands of popular vehicles recalled in Canada over steering issue
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are being recalled in Canada due to a steering-related issue that could increase a driver's risk of crash.
'We want things to go forward': Bloc leader hints his party 'might' help end House impasse
The leader of the Bloc Quebecois says his party 'might play a role' in helping the Liberals get House of Commons business rolling again — after days of Conservative-led debate on a privilege matter — but that his assistance would come at a cost.
Pilot dies aboard Turkish Airlines flight, forcing emergency landing in New York
A Turkish Airlines jetliner headed from Seattle to Istanbul made an emergency landing in New York on Wednesday after the captain died on board, an airline official said.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Saskatoon
-
'Was a really dumb mistake': Sask. Party MLA nominee apologizes for using racist slur
A Saskatchewan Party candidate publicly apologized on Wednesday after it was revealed that he used a racial slur in caucus offices a year and a half ago.
-
Overcapacity: Saskatoon ER worker says 'people would die' waiting for care in the event of a disaster
Healthcare workers rallied outside St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon Wednesday, advocating for better conditions in emergency rooms.
-
'I'm lucky where I'm at': Sask. woman intends to stay in Sarasota amid Hurricane Milton
Milton is shaping up to be a monster of a storm, expected to strike Florida as a Category 3 hurricane, just weeks after Hurricane Helene hit the region.
Winnipeg
-
Human smuggling charge laid against Winnipeg man: RCMP
A 42-year-old Winnipeg man has been charged with human smuggling following an investigation near a Canada-U.S. border crossing in Manitoba.
-
New bill to regulate sale of machetes, other long-bladed weapons in Manitoba
A bill restricting the sale of long-bladed weapons was introduced in Manitoba Wednesday by Justice Minister Matt Wiebe.
-
Winnipeg landlord facing fines over mass apartment evictions
A Winnipeg landlord is facing $9,000 in penalties following a mass eviction at a Winnipeg apartment block this summer.
Edmonton
-
Congested roads a 'ticking time bomb,' say residents of fast-growing Edmonton neighbourhoods
Residents of communities like Allard say there are traffic snarls on local roads every morning, leading to dangerous driving.
-
Police release video of encampment found dug into hill under High Level Bridge
On Wednesday, Edmonton police posted video of a large encampment found excavated under the High Level Bridge in August.
-
Oilers face Jets to start new NHL season with Skinner, Arvidsson on line with Draisaitl
Connor McDavid is slated to skate with a familiar offensive duo while Leon Draisaitl will line up with two of the newest Edmonton Oilers hired guns Wednesday night at Rogers Place to open their National Hockey League (NHL) season.
Calgary
-
Canadians brace for hurricane Milton as it hits Florida
As hurricane Milton slams into Florida, many Canadians living in the storm's path are preparing to evacuate or hunker down.
-
Man charged with arson following Calgary townhome explosion still in hospital
Calgary police say more charges are expected against a man accused of intentionally starting a fire that caused an explosion in northeast Calgary over the weekend.
-
1 dead in southwest Calgary collision between bus and car
One person is dead following a motor-vehicle collision in Calgary's southwest on Wednesday evening.
Lethbridge
-
Two Lethbridge family doctors shuttering practices at Campbell Clinic South
Thousands more Lethbridge residents will soon be without a family doctor.
-
Machete-wielding suspect who died in custody resisted arrest: ASIRT
Alberta's police watchdog says the Medicine Hat police officers who were involved in an in-custody death in August 2023 acted reasonably and with appropriate force in dealing with a suspect armed with a machete.
-
Drugs and nunchucks seized in Brocket traffic stop
Charges have been laid against a 44-year-old man following a traffic stop in Brocket, Piikani Nation RCMP said Tuesday.
Toronto
-
William Osler Health System apologizes after Sikh patient's beard shaved 'without consent and without medical necessity'
William Osler Health System is apologizing for an incident in which an elderly Sikh patient’s facial hair was shaved 'without consent and without medical necessity' by staff at Brampton Civic Hospital.
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Live updates: As Hurricane Milton makes landfall, nearly 1.3 million customers are without power in Florida
The Category 2 storm has left 1,280,000 homes and businesses without power in Florida as Milton pummels through the state.
-
'I should have been there': Toronto mayor says she regrets not being at Oct. 7 vigil
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is expressing regret for not attending a massive vigil held earlier this week where the city’s Jewish community commemorated one year since the October 7 terrorist attack. But her explanation isn’t adding up, event organizers say.
Ottawa
-
Kanata residents living in 'horror' from rat infestation
Halloween is right around the corner, but residents of a South Kanata community say they've been living in what feels like a horror movie for over a month.
-
Here's what it’s like to commute by transit from Barrhaven
As the LRT's new north-south line prepares to open, many Barrhaven transit users will still have to use buses and transfer to commute downtown.
-
Mathieu Fleury no longer Cornwall's chief administrative officer
The City of Cornwall says it has “parted ways” with Mathieu Fleury as the city's chief administrative officer, though the details of his departure are unclear.
Montreal
-
Old Montreal fire: another building owned by same landlord shot at overnight
Three young people aged 17, 19 and 20 were arrested after shots were fired late on Tuesday near Old Montreal.
-
Montembeault posts 47-save shutout, Canadiens blank Maple Leafs 1-0 in season-opener
Sam Montembeault made 47 saves, Cole Caufield scored the game-winning goal and the Montreal Canadiens opened the NHL season with a 1-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday at the Bell Centre.
-
Renewed calls to remove Terrebonne bike path in NDG amid parking and traffic concerns
Residents are once again calling for the removal of the bike path along Terrebonne Street in NDG to be taken down because of disruptions to traffic and parking.
Vancouver
-
'I'm incredibly lucky': Man who stole Vancouver police cruiser hit cyclist
It all happened within a matter of seconds. Christopher Taylor was biking near an East Vancouver park on a leisurely Sunday morning when he looked left to see a police cruiser barrelling toward him.
-
Parents of 13-year-old who died in B.C. homeless camp share their story in Ottawa
The parents of a teen who died of a suspected drug overdose are calling on the government to improve addiction and mental health care.
-
B.C. Green leader makes public safety announcement, misses Vancouver rally
On the heels of a commanding performance at the only televised leaders’ debate of the 2024 provincial election, the leader of the BC Green Party was scheduled to speak at a lively rally after making a public safety announcement in downtown Vancouver, but lost her voice and missed it at the last minute.
Vancouver Island
-
UVic PhD candidate working to bring first ever portable microplastics test kit to market
Abbas Motalebizadeh is a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria’s Mechanical Engineering Department and on Wednesday he was at the Victoria International Marina to test the Inner Harbour for microplastics.
-
Did John Rustad witness an overdose death on his way to the B.C. leaders' debate?
During the campaign, BC Conservative Leader John Rustad has repeatedly said people are "dying on the streets" in the province – and on Tuesday he claimed to have witnessed that very thing in downtown Vancouver while he was on his way to the leaders' debate.
-
Hollywood star Mark Ruffalo lauds B.C. Green Party in leadup to election
American actor and environmental activist Mark Ruffalo is weighing in on British Columbia politics, lauding the B.C. Green Party's stance on fossil fuels ahead of the Oct. 19 election.
Kelowna
-
B.C. homeowner astounded someone managed to steal one of his prized giant pumpkins
Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.
-
B.C. man gets prison sentence, fine for using fake names to buy guns in the U.S.
A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.
-
2nd-degree murder charge laid nearly 2 years after Kelowna stabbing
Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.
London
-
BREAKINGBREAKING Western University and CUPE 2361 reach tentative agreement
Western University and workers represented by CUPE 2361 have reached a tentative agreement. Members could be back to work as early as Oct. 17.
-
'How many lives we need to continue losing?': Son of fatal crash victim calling for intersection changes in Thamesford
This latest crash was the second fatal and third serious accident at this intersection in the past couple of months - when asked, locals said that the intersection is 'kind of blind.'
-
Goodbye Budweiser Gardens, hello Canada Life Place
It's the end of an era in downtown London. The Budweiser Gardens rebrand is underway.
Kitchener
-
Person struck by GO train in Kitchener has died, police confirm
One person was struck by a GO train, near the Kitchener station, on Wednesday morning.
-
Blast from decades past: What we found inside the walls at CTV Kitchener's former home
A former employee of CTV Kitchener has found a few memories buried in the walls of our old home at 864 King Street West.
-
Experts say lithium batteries are safe – if used properly
Lithium batteries, found in everything from cellphones to electric vehicles, have become a part of our daily lives – but recent fires have prompted concerns about their use.
Northern Ontario
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Live updates: As Hurricane Milton makes landfall, nearly 1.3 million customers are without power in Florida
The Category 2 storm has left 1,280,000 homes and businesses without power in Florida as Milton pummels through the state.
-
Hundreds of thousands of popular vehicles recalled in Canada over steering issue
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are being recalled in Canada due to a steering-related issue that could increase a driver's risk of crash.
-
Members of North Bay-based 22 Wing participates in NATO air defense exercises in Greece
For the last few weeks, fighter jets have been spotted soaring over Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, part of the ‘Ramstein Flag 24’ that includes military personnel from 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay.
Atlantic
-
Fourteen-year-old girl pleads guilty to manslaughter in Halifax teen's stabbing death
A 14-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old boy near a Halifax mall earlier this year.
-
Police investigating missing funds from Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston’s riding association
Premier Tim Houston said he was notified on Monday morning that funds had been allegedly stolen from the Pictou East Riding Association.
-
DEVELOPING
DEVELOPING Live updates: As Hurricane Milton makes landfall, nearly 1.3 million customers are without power in Florida
The Category 2 storm has left 1,280,000 homes and businesses without power in Florida as Milton pummels through the state.
N.L.
-
'Crack houses' across rural Newfoundland? RCMP has no reports supporting MP's claim
A Conservative MP from Newfoundland and Labrador says some small towns in his rural riding are overrun with crime, but police say they haven't received reports to that effect.
-
Self-identifying Indigenous group got $74M in federal cash, Inuit leader wants change
As millions in federal funding flow into a Labrador group whose claims of Inuit identity have been rejected by Indigenous organizations across Canada, a national Inuit leader worries the Liberal government is putting the rights of Indigenous Peoples at risk.
-
Marathon goat: Animal runner wins hearts and a medal after crashing Newfoundland race
He may not have logged the fastest time or even gone the full distance, but residents of a Newfoundland town agree the goat who unexpectedly joined the local weekend half marathon was the event's undisputed champion.
