In a significant ruling, the Quebec Court of Appeal denied a request from the provincial government to suspend the provision of subsidized child care to asylum seekers awaiting their hearing by the Supreme Court of Canada. The issue came to light when the Quebec government pleaded to put on hold a ruling made on February 7th. This previous decision asserted that Section 3 of the Education Childcare Act disproportionately disadvantages female asylum workers due to its discriminatory exception clauses regarding immigration applicants and subsidized childcare.
Challenging the ruling, the government argued that the increase in demand for subsidized child care services was too high, hence their request to suspend the ruling. Justice Lori Renée Weitzman acknowledged the state’s responsibility to meet childcare demands but ruled that the addition of six thousand children from asylum seekers would not place an unbearable burden on services.
Critics have voiced their concerns over the Quebec government’s decision to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Quebec Premier Francois Legault defends the appeal, maintaining that it boils down to the state’s capacity to provide services to its population. This controversy emerges amidst ongoing discussions between Legault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concerning the increasing number of asylum seekers in Quebec.
You can read more about this development on the JURIST news website.