A judge at the Federal Court of Canada has struck down the provisions of the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States, which allowed Canada to prevent the entry of "refugee claimants" though the Canada- US border, and direct them back to be dealt with in the US. The US could do the same and return the asylum seekers to Canada, but undoubtedly, the vast majority of asylum seekers were coming from the US into Canada. many of them had lived in the US for many years, and were motivated to move to Canada by a variety of factors, including the perceived US crackdown on illegal aliens, the free health care and social services provided in Canada, and other economic incentives. In late 2004, a rush of applicants from Pakistan, many of whom had been living illegally in the US for a dozen years, made their way to Canada to seek asylum based on mostly bogus stories. A similar rush is now in progress by Mexicans and Haitians who can not be sent back to the US, and arrive at the border towns, taxing social services. The decision of the Federal Court judge can be appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal, and eventually, may end up at the Supreme Court of Canada,. Given the ramifications and importance of this case, it is expected that the government will appeal the decision. Otherwise....get ready for an onslaught of thousands of "refugees" driving their cars through the Canada-US border!
Friday, November 30, 2007
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN SMUGGLING RING DISMANTLED
US authorities broke up an alleged international human smuggling ring with extensive connections to Canada, which was charging $10,000 for assisting illegal aliens to enter the US from Canada illegally. The story can be found at:
Thursday, November 22, 2007
MANITOBA PLANS TO REGULATE FOREIGN WORKER RECRUITERS
Man. to regulate foreign worker recruitment
By FBC staff
Manitoba's provincial government will consult on plans to regulate agencies that recruit temporary workers from other countries.
Labour Minister Nancy Allan announced plans Wednesday to consult with stakeholders on proposed changes to the provincial Employment Services Act. One of the proposals would require that all third-party recruiters of foreign workers be licensed by the province.
The province also proposes that such agencies will have to be members in good standing of either a law society in Canada or the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants.
The new law, if approved, would be the first of its kind in Canada and "a model for other jurisdictions," Allan said.
The legislation would also look to help employers get access to "legitimate and reliable" recruitment choices, she said.
While not specifically mentioned in the province's release, the move follows revelations earlier this year that over five dozen workers from China had been required to pay fees of up to C$11,500 each before coming to work at Maple Leaf Foods' hog plant at Brandon, Man.
The food company, which also recruits in Mexico and El Salvador, cut its ties to the immigration consulting firm that imported the workers and said it would explore other ways to recruit in China.
Maple Leaf said that while the workers did get some training for the fees paid, there was "no transparency" to the fees and the packer was unaware its new workers were carrying these heavy debts.
(A spokesman for the affected workers told reporters in January that the fees were demanded by a Chinese company, not the Canadian consultant.)
Almost 4,500 temporary foreign workers were employed in Manitoba in January this year, up from about 1,500 in 1997, the province said.
"We will continue to work with our federal (government) partners to better understand the arrival, location and numbers of temporary workers as well as identify, license and regulate agencies involved in the recruitment," Allan said in a release.
The province noted that the Employment Services Act hadn't been amended since 1987.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
CANADIAN BANKS TRYING TO CATCH MORE IMMIGRANT CUSTOMERS
The super-concentrated and uncompetitive Canadian banking industry is trying to catch more immigrant customers by resorting to a variety of tactics, some creative, others dangerously divisive. Why should we go to a bank machine and spend time to have to decide in which language I want to bank? Rather than creating more ways for people not to interact, they should stop opposing competition at the retail level by non-Canadian banks, so ALL custom es will have meaningful choices. See story:
CANADA URGED TO FIGHT HUMAN SMUGGLING
Canada urged to join pact against human trafficking
Peter O'Neil
CanWest News Service
Friday, November 09, 2007
STRASBOURG, France -- Canada is being urged to sign and ratify a controversial Council of Europe convention intended to battle the modern slave trade.
The council, a human rights body created in this city in 1949 on the advice of former British prime minister Winston Churchill, will enact the convention next year to battle the trafficking of people - mostly women and children - for the purposes of sexual slavery and forced labour.
A conference Thursday heard grim accounts of recent events that underscore the inability of authorities to publicize and crack down on one of organized crime's most lucrative industries.
John Austin, a member of the British House of Commons, noted that British media, the public and police have largely ignored the recent story of 48 trafficked children who went missing while in the protective custody of social service agencies in England.
The children, aged 10 to 17 and mostly girls from Africa and China, are believed to be back in the hands of organized crime figures who originally smuggled them into England to work as child prostitutes.
Meanwhile, the British media, the public and authorities obsess every day about the whereabouts of a pretty blond four-year-old, Madeleine McCann, who went missing over the summer in Portugal.
"I find the dramatic contrast between (public attention to) the worldwide search for Madeleine, and the plight of 48 missing children in Britain, extraordinary," Austin said.
In a later interview, Austin urged countries like Canada to adopt the convention.
That view was echoed officially by Matjaz Gruden, a special adviser to Council of Europe secretary-general Terry Davis.
"It's in the clear interest of Canada and the European countries that are members of the Council of Europe" to ratify the convention, Gruden said.
"We cannot do these things alone. We cannot even do it on a continental basis. I mean, Europe is a big place, but these are issues where you need global co-operation in order to be successful."
The council is made up of 47 European members. Five more - Canada, the Holy See, the United States, Japan and Mexico - have observer status. Canadian officials and parliamentarians have participated in the formulation of modern council conventions in areas such as counter-terrorism, cybercrime, the sexual exploitation of children, and trafficking, Gruden said.
Canadian officials were unable Thursday to explain Canada's position on the trafficking convention, although Justice Canada said on its website that it is following United Nations' resolutions denouncing people-trafficking.
"The government of Canada is working to combat trafficking in persons both domestically and internationally."
Gruden noted that many European countries have voiced concern over the strong provisions in the Council of Europe convention intended to protect victims.
The convention calls on authorities to treat trafficked people as victims, provide them with "physical and psychological assistance and support for their reintegration into society."
While all council members have signed the treaty, only 10 countries so far have ratified it. Some governments are dragging their feet because of concern that the victim-protection provisions could be used to prevent states from expelling illegal migrants.
"What they were afraid of is that it would create a loophole for illegal immigration," Gruden said.
Peter O'Neil
CanWest News Service
Friday, November 09, 2007
STRASBOURG, France -- Canada is being urged to sign and ratify a controversial Council of Europe convention intended to battle the modern slave trade.
The council, a human rights body created in this city in 1949 on the advice of former British prime minister Winston Churchill, will enact the convention next year to battle the trafficking of people - mostly women and children - for the purposes of sexual slavery and forced labour.
A conference Thursday heard grim accounts of recent events that underscore the inability of authorities to publicize and crack down on one of organized crime's most lucrative industries.
John Austin, a member of the British House of Commons, noted that British media, the public and police have largely ignored the recent story of 48 trafficked children who went missing while in the protective custody of social service agencies in England.
The children, aged 10 to 17 and mostly girls from Africa and China, are believed to be back in the hands of organized crime figures who originally smuggled them into England to work as child prostitutes.
Meanwhile, the British media, the public and authorities obsess every day about the whereabouts of a pretty blond four-year-old, Madeleine McCann, who went missing over the summer in Portugal.
"I find the dramatic contrast between (public attention to) the worldwide search for Madeleine, and the plight of 48 missing children in Britain, extraordinary," Austin said.
In a later interview, Austin urged countries like Canada to adopt the convention.
That view was echoed officially by Matjaz Gruden, a special adviser to Council of Europe secretary-general Terry Davis.
"It's in the clear interest of Canada and the European countries that are members of the Council of Europe" to ratify the convention, Gruden said.
"We cannot do these things alone. We cannot even do it on a continental basis. I mean, Europe is a big place, but these are issues where you need global co-operation in order to be successful."
The council is made up of 47 European members. Five more - Canada, the Holy See, the United States, Japan and Mexico - have observer status. Canadian officials and parliamentarians have participated in the formulation of modern council conventions in areas such as counter-terrorism, cybercrime, the sexual exploitation of children, and trafficking, Gruden said.
Canadian officials were unable Thursday to explain Canada's position on the trafficking convention, although Justice Canada said on its website that it is following United Nations' resolutions denouncing people-trafficking.
"The government of Canada is working to combat trafficking in persons both domestically and internationally."
Gruden noted that many European countries have voiced concern over the strong provisions in the Council of Europe convention intended to protect victims.
The convention calls on authorities to treat trafficked people as victims, provide them with "physical and psychological assistance and support for their reintegration into society."
While all council members have signed the treaty, only 10 countries so far have ratified it. Some governments are dragging their feet because of concern that the victim-protection provisions could be used to prevent states from expelling illegal migrants.
"What they were afraid of is that it would create a loophole for illegal immigration," Gruden said.
CANADA ANNOUNCES MEASURES FOR IRAQ FAMILY REUNIFICATION
It seems that the Government of Canada has develop the habit of reacting to international crisis by bumping some people ahead of the line. The problem is that everyone feels entitled to be at the head of the line. Every time there is a civil war, catastrophe of some kind, or any otter displacement, Citizenship and Immigration Canada forges ahead with some kind of "program" to bring people based only on family relationships, even some tenuous ones, at the behest of different ethnic groups. This is hardly a good policy habit. Instead of doing this, they should concentrate on bringing the people Canada needs, so they can be employed and productive in jobs that now go begging, not more "family class" to be stuck on welfare, without language skills and unhappy. I am sure that the visa posts could find many applications from Iraqi Skilled Workers who are educated and could land a job immediately, but who will not be helped by the new program. See link:
Saturday, November 17, 2007
CANADIANS PAYING FOR ILLEGALS FLOCKING FROM THE US
Here is another story about the not-so-hidden costs of illegal migration from the US into smaller communities in Ontario, particularly by the recent wave of Mexicans coming ac cross the border after years living illegally in the US. Why should taxpayers pay for them? See story:
http://www.northpeel.com/news/article/37905
Monday, November 12, 2007
FLORIDA SHUTS DOWN FRAUDULENT CONSULTANTS
Finally, the Attorney General of Florida shut down the agency which encouraged people to migrate illegally to Canada. See story:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/10/america/NA-GEN-US-Immigration-Agency.php
Saturday, November 10, 2007
REFUGEE SEEKERS PUTTING SEVERE STRAIN ON SOCIAL SERVICES
The Mexicans and Haitians are still driving themselves to the Detroit-Windsor border, encouraged by unscrupulous individuals who promise them "easy" residency in Canada, and in some measure, also by the weak enforcement of deportation orders issued by Canadian authorities ( that is not surprising). Meanwhile the border city of Windsor, heavily dependent on the fortunes of the auto industry, and where unemployment runs at 9.6 percent, is feeling the strain on its social services put by the unwelcome, self-invited newcomers...they keep coming after years in the US...the word is out that Canada is "easy".See story:
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
PLANS FOR CREDENTIAL ACCREDITATION OFFICES IN INDIA AND CHINA
Yesterday, Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration made an announcement in India concerning the thorny problem of credential accreditation for skilled immigrants. This seems to be more political pandering by the Tories to get minority votes, which have traditionally voted for the Liberal Party, rather than any meaningful solution to an extremely complex problem. I wish politicians would stop wasting taxpayers' dollars on window dressing and allow market forces to dictate what kind of immigrant workers the economy needs. Do we need more PhDs in Philosophy to drive taxis and be unhappy, or should we spend our resources bringing computer programmers, technicians and engineers who speak good English and will find a job immediately and invest in the economy? Isn't the answer obvious? This is the fluffy announcement for thsi colosal waste of money:
Minister Finley announces overseas expansion of Foreign Credentials Referral Services
New Delhi, India, November 6, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the expansion of services to help immigrants from India and China get their professional credentials assessed and recognized in Canada as quickly as possible with the assistance of the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO).
While in India, t he Minister announced the open ing of a new office of the Canadian Immigration Integration Pro ject in New Delhi. The new office, which is centrally located, is in response to increased demand in the region.
“The Government of Canada is committed to helping newcomers succeed, and one way to do that is to help them before they get to Canada,” said Minister Finley. “Too many newcomers have come to Canada only to learn after they’ve arrived what credentials are needed. By expanding our FCRO programs overseas, we’re helping prospective immigrants to get a head start by providing information on the foreign credential recognition process and the Canadian labour market.”
Today’s announcement adds service on a rotational basis in the states of Gujarat and Punjab, which are major sources of skilled immigrants from India. In China, rotational services have been added in Beijing and Shanghai so services are available to more potential immigrants.
Until now, the orientation sessions have been available in three cities in India, China and the Philippines. To date, more than 1,200 prospective immigrants have registered, and benefited. Overall, participants say they are more confident about being able to settle successfully when they arrive in Canada.
When the Foreign Credentials Referral Office was launched in May of 2007, the Government of Canada committed to expanding overseas services. Today’s expansion is another step towards meeting this commitment. The sessions are funded on a pilot basis by Human Resources and Social Development Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program and delivered by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges’ Canadian Immigration Integration Project.
The Foreign Credentials Referral Office was established following consultations with provincial and territorial governments and other key stakeholders, including regulatory and assessment bodies, post secondary education institutions and their national organizations, employers, sector councils, immigrant serving organizations and newcomers themselves. While credential recognition in Canada is a provincial and territorial responsibility, the federal government plays a facilitative role, funding projects and providing a range of information, path-finding and referral services to help internationally trained persons navigate through the foreign credential assessment and recognition processes and obtain up-to-date information about the Canadian labour market.
Monday, November 5, 2007
CANADA'S AUDITOR GENERAL CALLS FOR BETTER BORDER SECURITY
Interesting article from the Toronto Star on the issue of border security. It seems that, six years after 9-11 we have learned and done little to improve the situation. What we need is a comprehensive approach to reform immigration laws and stop the influx of bogus refugee claimants travelling on fake documents through the borders and airports. In a world where security concerns are heightened, allowing them to do so makes no sense whatsoever.
Friday, November 2, 2007
SERGIO R. KARAS TO CHAIR SESSION AT GLOBAL IMMIGRATION CONFERENCE
I will be moderating a session on "Entrepreneurs, Investors and opening overseas offices" at the International Bar Association(IBA) 3rd. Biennial Global Business Immigration conference in London, November 14 and 15. The conference will attract some of the world's best immigration lawyers and will be opened by the UK Minister of Immigration, with other notable keynote speakers during the session.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
CANADA REMOVES VISA REQUIREMENT FOR CZECH REPUBLIC AND LATVIA
Under pressure from the EU, Canada has removed the visitor visa requirement (Temporary Resident Visa) for citizens of the Czech Republic and Latvia. The two visa requirements date back to very different sets of circumstances: The visa requirement on citizens of Latvia is a leftover from the breakup of the Soviet Union; Latvia (together with Estonia and Lithuania) was a former Soviet satellite, where citizens used their new found freedom to go abroad and never come back, but the situation changed dramatically when Latvia joined the EU and began experiencing strong economic growth, an incentive for its citizens to stay in Europe. The visa situation with the Czech Republic is more complex: in the 1990s, the Czech Republic enjoyed visa-free status, but a deluge of bogus Czech and Hungarian Roma "refugees", encouraged by unscrupulous lawyers and consultants, inundated Canada's asylum system. It is then surprising that the visa has been removed, and further monitoring to determine if the situation will repeat itself is warranted. See story:
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