Thursday, May 7, 2009

CZECH PM FINDS CANADA "SOFT" ON "REFUGEES"

Canada aims to curb flow of Czech asylum seekers

'Soft' Canadian system to blame, Czech prime minister says

JANE TABER AND STEVEN CHASE

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

May 7, 2009 at 4:08 AM EDT

PRAGUE and OTTAWA — Tensions over a surge in refugee claims from the Czech Republic to this country surfaced during Stephen Harper's visit to the Eastern European nation yesterday when its prime minister said Canada is soft on asylum seekers.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said the rising numbers of his citizens claiming refugee status in Canada reflects the fact it's very easy to obtain asylum under the "soft" Canadian system.

For his part, Mr. Harper warned that Canada may need to intervene to throttle back the stream of refugee claimants from the Czech Republic. It's expected that measures could include re-introducing requirements for Czech citizens to obtain visas before entering Canada - a restriction that Ottawa lifted only in 2007.

The Prime Minister met Mr. Topolanek yesterday as part of a one-day Canada-European Union summit. But the refugee issue has been brewing for months. It was just last month that Immigration Minister Jason Kenney called on Prague to clamp down on for-profit consultants thought to be driving the soaring number of refugee claims.

Czech citizens ranked fourth on Canada's list of refugee claimants for the first three months of 2009, behind Mexicans, Haitians and Colombians. Between January and March this year, 653 people from the Czech Republic filed claims for asylum in Canada.

Mr. Harper was extremely diplomatic yesterday. He didn't bristle at Mr. Topolanek's remarks about Canada's soft refugee system. He said the Czech government may not be to blame for the situation, but added that the flow of claimants is "a real concern" for Ottawa.

"It's not necessarily the fault of the Czech Republic but it is a reality that we do have to deal with," Mr. Harper said.

"Unless there is improvement, the government of Canada will have to take some actions."

The Prime Minister did not specify what these measures might include. Bringing back visa requirements for Czech visitors is a blunt instrument that would allow Ottawa to stem the flow of refugee claims because officials could scrutinize visa applicants before they enter Canada.

But another option under consideration is changes that will allow fast-tracking the removal of failed refugee claimants to designated countries - making it easier to deport those who cannot win asylum.

An Immigration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Czech Republic's minority Roma community - once called Gypsies - are behind the spike in claims. However, the Canadian government does not officially track the types of Czech nationals coming here.

The number of Czech asylum seekers has grown from virtually none in 2006. Things began taking off in 2007 after Canada lifted the requirement for Czech citizens to obtain a visa.

In 2008, Czech asylum seekers ranked seventh on Canada's list of refugee claimants. Canada received 861 refugee claims from the Czech Republic. That year, 84 claims from Czechs were accepted, 96 were withdrawn, 11 were abandoned and five rejected.

It's currently very difficult for Ottawa to deport failed refugee claimants because they have several avenues of appeal, the Immigration official said. A large number of Czech asylum seekers also withdraw their claims before they are rejected and instead go underground, "living here in the shadows," he said.

Mr. Kenney will be travelling to Prague in June or July to discuss the issue, officials say.

Ottawa remains concerned about profiteers and Roma groups encouraging migrants to head to Canada, the Immigration official said.

"They will say 'Come live in Canada. You just come there, apply for refugee status. You'll automatically get a work permit and you just run out the clock,' " the Immigration official said.

"This is creating very real risk we may have to re-impose visas."

Mr. Topolanek played down the idea that there is rampant persecution in the Czech Republic. But the Roma community in Canada has challenged this, noting the numbers of Roma refugee claims approved in Canada confirms their status as a persecuted group.

Amnesty International has raised concerns about the growing number of violent attacks by "far-right groups" against the Roma community in some areas of the Czech Republic.

"An increasing number of marches and statements by some Czech far-right groups include incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against the [Roma] community," a May 1 Amnesty International release said.

"Roma in the country continue to suffer discrimination at the hands of both public officials and private individuals, including in the areas of housing, education, health care and employment," Amnesty International said.

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