Posted on 08/05/2005 2:31:10 AM PDT by F14 Pilot
OTTAWA -- A sharp drop in the number of refugee claimants arriving in Canada this year is the result of a new pact with the United States that's turning out to be a "silent killer," a national refugee group says.
The Canadian Council for Refugees issued a report yesterday urging the federal government to tear up the so-called safe third country agreement, saying it is having "a devastating effect on the ability of refugees to find protection."
The Immigration Department insists that the agreement has been a success and that Canada's commitment to protecting refugees has not wavered. Under the agreement, which took effect Dec. 29, each country recognizes the other as a safe place to seek protection.
It means Canada can turn back potential refugees at the border between Canada and the United States on the basis that the applicant must pursue their claims in the United States, the country where they first arrived.
Canadian refugee advocates vigorously opposed the deal, arguing that the United States is not always a safe country for people fleeing persecution.
Claimants, including children, are often imprisoned for months or even years in the United States while their applications are processed, critics said. In addition, more restrictive U.S. rules and interpretation of who qualifies as a refugee mean some rejected by the United States have later been accepted by Canada.
Opponents also argued the pact would effectively reduce the number of claimants who could seek Canada's protection, and predicted an increase in irregular border crossings and people smuggling.
"Six months after implementation, the indications are that many of these worst fears are already being realized," the report says.
Based on the first half of the year, the council projects that this year Canada is set to receive the lowest number of claims since the mid-1980s, with an anticipated year-end total of 17,300.
That's far below the average of 29,680 claims that have been made annually since the current refugee determination system came into effect in 1989, the council points out. It notes that the biggest drop in claims has occurred at the border, with numbers half of what they were last year. The decline in claims made at airports and other points inside Canada has not been as steep.
Immigration Department spokesman Greg Scott said that while officials are monitoring the agreement's impact, it's too early to draw conclusions. "We need to look at the broader issues and try to identify what are the potential reasons and what are the factors that might be at play that are responsible for this decline."
I hear ya', Pilot; this is patently ridiculous. While Canada continues to believe their hyper-liberal policies of acceptance of anyone who applies will save them from terrorrism those policies continue to pose a very real threat to us. They already harbor the highest amount of Muslims in the Western hemisphere while allowing them to carve out regions of Shari'a Law over their own government.
That's all I need to know about Canada.
Canada has half a milion Muslims (Mostly Arabs)
2nd language in Quebec is Arabic
They let any body in for certain amount of money
That is a ruined country!
Yup. That's why the Minutemen are trying to get a monitoring effort together on the North. While it would merely be symbolic considering the vast distances it would help remind the general public that our "good neighbor" has some very bad residents that they aren't doing anything aboot.
You want to see a ruined country, look no further than the UK. Tiny little country we are, and we've taken in 2 million of em, 4 times more than the vast Canada..
Canada has a population of 32 milions
UK must have a population of 80 milions
I understand what you say.
Mr. Blair has just said they the British gov't will deal with those who incite hatres and radicalism which is very good.
I think we're at approximately 60 million at the moment.
I don't agree that Britain is lost. 2% Muslim is hardly as bad as France. As soom as we stop voting for PC shills we'll be fine.
Unfortunately, Mr. Blair rarely speaks for even his OWN party. Labour in general has no desire to change anything about immigration or security.
Out of the 3 major parties, only the Conservatives want to scale down immigration, but Conservatives also drool over the EU, and would eventually turn over full control to Brussels. After that, we would've *have* an immigration policy, it'd be EU Free-For-All!
wouldn't*
In the past, when I have watched these shows I have laughed at the funny things, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and it has been really uplifting.
However, knowing your plight first hand, my daughter has a good friend in England, I can hardly bear to watch these shows anymore. Had James Heriot lived, what would he think of his beloved England now? He'd mourn just as you are, and as many Americans are right now reading your post. Tiny little country we are, and we've taken in 2 million of em, 4 times more than the vast Canada..
Hell is too good for politicians.
Canada has half a milion Muslims (Mostly Arabs)
We have either 4 or 7 million. Not sure of the number/
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.