VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Harper government plans to crack down on asylum-seekers who flee to Canada through the back door. Under a bill to be tabled today, anyone coming to Canada illegally and claiming refugee status won't be allowed to travel outside Canada for five years after their arrival here.
In addition, some asylum-seekers won't be able to sponsor other immigrants, including their families, for five years. David Poopalapillai with the Canadian Tamil Congress says refugees can't travel home under the current law anyway. But it's the sponsorship ban that has him worried. "This is inhumane, very cruel. If you're not allowing to sponsor their loved ones until they become a citizen, it's totally inhumane."
He feels we should be working with troubled countries like Sri Lanka. "Find out why they're coming, how they're coming, what made them to take this dangerous and very treacherous journey."
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Public Safety Minister Vic Toews will be in Vancouver today to unveil their new package of proposed legislation. The announcement is also expected to include longer jail terms for
human smugglers, such as ten years for anyone moving 50 people or more.