The Federal Minister of Immigration says
Canada will consider giving Chinese migrants landed immigrant status
if they testify against smugglers who brought them into the country
illegally.
Elinor Caplan made the offer
during a visit to a detention centre near Vancouver Saturday.
Almost 600 Chinese citizens were caught trying to sneak into
Canada on old, rusty boats last summer.
So far, about 100 of them have had immigration hearings. Only one
person has been given refugee status.
The rest of the claims were either rejected or put aside because
the people failed to show up for their hearings.