Saturday, April 08

Saturday, April 8, 2000

If there is one place in Canadian politics where optics becomes public policy, it is immigration law. The front pages of newspapers and the lead stories on television are permanently reserved for immigration pity (poor Filipina nanny being sent out of the country for working too hard) and immigration anger (convicted drug dealer allowed to continue refugee claim).

Thus, it is with some attention that a revision of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is received. In general, it appears the Liberals have been full of both anger and pity.

If passed, the act will create a very uncomfortable set of choices for people-smugglers, particularly those who smuggle more than 10 people either into or out of the country and will face possible $1-million fines or life imprisonment.

Equally good is the suspension of a refugee claim after a person has been charged with an offence, and the general effort to speed up the handling of refugee claims. If, as Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan says, the time for final judgment in such cases will be reduced from 5.4 years to 20 months, a quasi-miracle will have been accomplished.

We also welcome procedures that would make it easier for foreign students who have graduated from Canadian universities and have jobs to work here. They're our brain gain. Allowing additional temporary workers in and gearing immigration acceptability more closely to skills than to occupation is positive, as is extension of common-law provisions to homosexuals.

However, several parts of the bill must be watched carefully. The special once-in-a-lifetime provision that allows a person without near relatives to sponsor anyone from his or her distant family has the smell of something easily abused. Nepotism should not be a guiding principle in the act.

As well, provisions that would refuse refugee status to anyone convicted of a serious crime in his or her home country should be monitored to make sure political offences are not confounded with criminal ones.

That said, Ms. Caplan has made some progress.