EMERSON, Man. — Two Conservative members of Parliament are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to visit the Manitoba border to get a first hand look at the influx of refugee claimants.
Michelle Rempel and Ted Falk stood at the border in Emerson and said the growing number of people walking across fields from the United States is a drain on resources and a safety concern for local residents.
The press conference quickly descended into arguments among area residents who were on hand.
Joyce Dayton challenged Rempel and said the refugee-claimants are simply seeking safety and turn themselves into RCMP.
Tanya Neufeld, who lives just outside Emerson, defended Rempel and said the federal government has made the border too open.
Rempel had Emerson Reeve Greg Janzen on hand, but he took a different stance than her, and said Canada should change its agreement with the United States and make it easier for refugee-claimants to cross at official border points without being turned back.