Categories: Need to know

Harper says Tamil migrants could prompt changes to Canadian law

‘This trend gives us some significant concern’

by macleans.ca on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 4:10pm - 0 Comments

Stephen Harper is warning the government won’t be as welcoming of future asylum seekers who arrive on Canada’s shores like those aboard the MV Sun Sea did last week. Speaking to reporters in Mississauga on Tuesday, the prime minister said Ottawa “will not hesitate to strengthen the laws if we have to” in order to prevent more ships from coming to Canada. The opposition Liberals have criticized the Harper government for focusing on security issues in connection with the arrival of nearly 500 Tamil would-be refugees from Sri Lanka. Harper’s Tuesday press conference suggested his government isn’t about to change tack. “We are responsible for the security of our borders, and the ability to welcome people, or not welcome people, when they come,” he said. “This trend gives us some significant concern, and we’ll take whatever steps are necessary going forward.”

The Globe and Mail

Tags: Canada, migrants

Jeyaratnam

Harper should focus more sending reporters and NGO members to Sri lanka especially the north and east province where the majorityof the tamils live.He should be taking more actions to see what is happening in Sri Lanka and to discover the reason for the tamils to try to enter Canada. He should focus less on the laws and changing them. If he took the time to uncover the problems in Sri lanka and took action to stop the torture the Tamils face everyday in Sri lanka there would be no need for the tamils to try and enter Canada and none of the laws would have to be changed.
Darden Cavalcade

The Tamils have come to Canada to meet Canadians of the opposite sex. This is what happens when people lie on Macleans annual survey of Canadian sex lives.

For the future…fewer partners, fewer orgasms.
ALEX

If any one on the boat have ties with the Tamil Tigers send them back ASAP, they will bring there nasty ways with them, they destroyed sri lanka and will destroy canada. The tamil tigers are like cockroaches, they know the system and will abuse canada system (will live off welfare while working illegaly), they will scam, sell drugs and abuse the law. How do I know this I know alot of tamil tigers in Toronto, I use to be part of there scheme and I can honestly say they are a worthless piece of crap………..

KEEP CANADA SAFE AND SEND THE TAMIL TIGERS SUPPORTERS BACK TO SRI LANKA THEY ARE LIARS
ALEX

If any one on the boat have ties with the Tamil Tigers send them back ASAP, they will bring there nasty ways with them, they destroyed sri lanka and will destroy canada. The tamil tigers are like cockroaches, they know the system and will abuse canada system (will live off welfare while working illegaly), they will scam, sell drugs and abuse the law. How do I know this I know alot of tamil tigers in Toronto, I use to be part of there scheme and I can honestly say they are a worthless piece of crap………..

KEEP CANADA SAFE AND SEND THE TAMIL TIGERS SUPPORTERS BACK TO SRI LANKA THEY ARE LIARS. IF THEY ARE REFUGEES HOW CAN THEY COME UP WITH THE $50,000, I KNOW HOW AND YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

Guest

That is exactly what we are afraid of Alex. That is why people are so against them. It is unfortunate that we are called racists because of this. I know lots of legal immigrants and love them and are friends with them. It is the illegal ones, criminal ones and ones who want to sit on welfare that I think should be sent back. These people broke the law just coming here and we are supposed to accept them If I was to make the decisions it would be that you could never go on welfare when you arrrive and any crimes comitted would have you deported immediately. Sorry people but we live in a different world today and we do not want Canada turning into a country full of terrorists.

guest

How come nobody has asked why all of these "oppressed" people were mostly men. There used to be a day when "real men" would push their women and children out of danger. How come this boat wasnt full of women and children? Canada would probably be more accepting of that! Just my opinion. As it is….I dont trust them or the system thats giving us the facts.
http://porn.com dylan nelson

Your gay
Marjorie

The only way into Canada as an immigrant is through the official application, which is made from outside Canada, It takes time and patience, blood tests, ex-rays, financial statements, etc. If arriving at our shores or airports without approval, you should expect to be sent home. Go home and apply as people have done for years – and wait. If this rule is not enforced, God Help Us!
truthfinder

Let’s not belittle the dangers posed by illegal or uninvited immigrants. First of all, someone who is able to put $50,000 on the table for such a trip hardly qualifies as an economic refugee. Secondly, I highly doubt that, in a rather poor country, there could be such a large number of people who are able to come up with that kind of money unless, of course, they have a wealthy “supporter”. This then leads to the question who such a supporter might be and what his intentions are? The idea suggesting that just because someone puts himself through a very unpleasant boat trip shows that they are true refugees, is rather blue-eyed. Terrorists who go through the gruesome task of preparing to blow themselves up are an example of what people will go through in order to reach their objective. My heart goes out to the many people who suffer imprisonment and torture or who, because of political and religious (mainly Christian) views, are forced to live in hiding. These people would hardly be able to come up with $50,000 in order to escape. Bottom line: Someone who would truly qualify as refugee is usually either already imprisoned or lives in hiding without income and only secretively supported by family and friends. Certainly NO $50,000 to spend on a trip to Canada!
John

http://www.tamilnet.com/
Canada paints 'terrorism' to escape responsibility
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 August 2010, 14:41 GMT]
Canadian government which tilted the balance by branding the defensive national struggle of Eezham Tamils as 'international terrorism' and was thus one of the abetters of Colombo in the war, is in its attempt to escape responsibility now breaches all bounds by painting a picture of 'terrorism' even for the arrival of refugees, Tamil circles said. "Canada government foments reaction over Tamil refugee boat," fans anti-immigrant prejudice, and boosts "Sri Lanka's authoritarian, communalist government – a government that is implicated in horrific war crimes," wrote Keith Jones in The World Socialist Website, Tuesday. Citing Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, he noted that Canada government may also use the country’s anti-terrorism laws to prosecute any Canadians of Tamil origin who helped fund the passage of their relatives to Canada on the MV Sun Sea, by linking the refugees to the LTTE.
lutz

I am sick and tired of the bleeding heart types that describe the just landed Tamils as refugees.The only type applicable to them is " economic refugee",just like thousands of mexican and other nationalities that in an unending stream seek refugee status in Canada.According to the UN ,the accepted arbitrator in such matters,the Tamils in Sri Lanka are not persecuted!But the Tamil Tigers were definitely declared to be terrorists.
The just arrived Tamils supposedly paid thousands of dollars for their well organized voyage to Canada.Where did that money come from? I strongly suspect the Canadian Tamil community extended some loans.
With that sort of, provable honestly earned, money a Tamil would be looked upon favourably by Canadian Immigration officials in Sri Lanka and thus be one step closer to legal immigration.
Comparing the Tamil situation to the one of Jews in Nazi Germany is not only ridiculous ,it is insulting!
These "refugee" ships are nothing but effective ways to not only bypass normal immigration or refugee-claim procedures, but to to jump the line.
I am an immigrant myself and I am utterly disgusted by the Tamils.And please don't think after-war Europe was free from persecution!
Selva

You are correct John.
elrick74

HERE HERE!!!!!!