Feds downloading refugee costs onto provinces, says Education Minister Ian Wishart

Ministers from across the country will meet in Winnipeg Wednesday to talk about the future of immigration and refugees in Canada.

Federal minister John McCallum will sit down with provincial ministers to hear how the provinces are coping after an influx of thousands of newcomers.

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Manitoba Minister of Education and Training Ian Wishart said he plans on asking for Ottawa's help, and expects his counterparts across the country to do the same. Wishart is representing the province at the meeting.

"I think it's fair that they recognize some of the costs that they have moved off to the province," he said Tuesday ahead of the meeting. "They stepped up pretty good initially with support for the refugees, but some things are the province's responsibility."

Last year, Manitoba took in around 1,200 refugeesand Wishart said he expects about as many this year, too.

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Wishart said he plans on asking for a hand from Ottawa on items including language and job training as well as housing and education.

He said he's heard similar concerns from his counterparts from across the countryand expects others to make similar requests at the meeting.