Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - October 2009
The Canadian Government is taking advantage of recent events off the coast of Vancouver to demonstrate their new hard-line stance on false refugee claims.
Last week a boat was stopped just outside of Vancouver with an alleged 76 Sri Lankan men aboard, claiming refugee status upon their detention. They will face a hearing in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board within 48 hours.
Supporters of the migrant men are urging the Government to treat their case with compassion. They argue that Sri Lanka has become a dangerous place for many, as civil war has torn the nation apart. It has been reported that this vessel was one of a �network� of ships full of migrants heading for western nations.
However, the Government is planning to use this highly publicized incident to illustrate their message to the world that Canada will no longer be the �safe haven� taken advantage of by false refugee claimants.
�When a large number of people arrive off the coast in one boat, it attracts people�s attention,� said Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. �But I can tell you there were airplanes arriving from Prague this summer where over half the passengers were going on to make asylum claims.�
The Minister was referring to a decision earlier this year by the Government to reinstate visitor visa requirements for citizens from the Czech Republic precisely because of ballooning refugee claims. The rate of claims has increased by almost 70 per cent in the past two years.
However, many advocates are concerned that legitimate claimants could ultimately suffer from such a hard-line stance.
�For many people, Sri Lanka is no longer safe,� said a Toronto lawyer who is trying to assist the men from the boat. �If they�re [the migrants are] willing to risk much getting here, they deserve a hearing. They deserve our compassion.�
Source: The Globe and Mail
