Michael Ignatieff: lower the rhetoric on Tamil migrants

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Canadians need to stand back and take a deep breath when it comes to the discussion around the almost 500 migrants who arrived on our soil a little over a week ago. That's the advice federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff doled out during a live interview with News1130 at the PNE on Saturday.

Ignatieff says the government is trying to scare Canadians by telling them terrorists were on board the MV Sun Sea. The Liberal leader says we should put our faith in the refugee system to weed out those who don't deserve asylum in Canada. "Let's just lower that rhetoric here. Let's lower the temperature. Give our officials a chance to sort out who's who. And also never forget that this country has been a home to refugees, and I think it should remain so."

Ignatieff's father sought refuge in Canada, after escaping Communist Russia. He says that's why he believes every person on the ship deserves a fair hearing.