Manitoba's premier says the province has a duty to assist the people who are crossing the border, seeking asylum in Canada.

Brian Pallister was responding to a plan by Manitoba Housing to use a vacant building in Gretna as a temporary housing facility for refugees who are illegally crossing the border at Emerson.

Pallister says Manitoba has led the country in helping refugees over the last number of years and will continue to do so.
    
"We must do our part to help these people. I'm not particularly enamored by the fact that so many are coming in illegally, but under international rules, we have an obligation to do our part."

Under Canadian law, individuals have a legal right to seek asylum without penalty applied to illegal entry and to a fair and timely review of their case and adequate supports until a decision is made.

The province has asked the federal government for help with housing, education and other services to deal with the influx of asylum seekers entering at Emerson. However, both levels of government appear to be at an impasse on the issue of federal assistance, and the sticking point is a dispute over how many claimants are staying in the province.

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said last month that ``a great many'' of the border crossers were not staying in Manitoba, but Education Minister Ian Wishart says he estimates 70 percent of recent
arrivals are staying in the province.

"The federal government has not done much apart from a nice visit to Emerson which was good, but to follow that up with some resources and support would be really helpful," said Pallister. "It's a stressful, difficult and challenging thing for everyone and I thank all the local front line people, community members and people at the agencies who are doing some great work, but to just leave it in the hands of the provincial government and walk away is hardly the right approach."