CTV News: Welcome Place

Alastair Clarke was interviewed on CTV News yesterday regarding the labour dispute between Welcome Place and the workers’ Union. Reporter Josh Crabb has been covering this story and his written piece is included on their website.

In short, Clarke Immigration Law has worked closely with Welcome Place staff over many years. They provide invaluable services to immigrants and refugee claimants. We often represent individuals who first went to Welcome Place for help. They are often the first people in Manitoba who help newcomers to this province. They provide an array of services and many of the staff have gone through the immigration system themselves.

The current situation of funding shortages at Welcome Place are dire. Full disclosure: we provide regular donations to Welcome Place to help.

Labour disputes are complex and we are living during difficult times. Travel restrictions and quarantine measure re COVID-19 has had a large impact on the numbers of refugee claimants who are entering Canada both at Ports of Entry (POE) and through irregular entry. Alastair gave testimony to Parliament on this point in NOV 2020 and the situation remains very precarious for “asylum seekers” in the USA who are often subject to detention and hardship.

For more information on this ongoing situation, please follow CTV News and they reporting from Winnipeg. Welcome Place needs our support in order to continue to serve its clients and help welcome people to our city.