WORLD NATIONAL SPORTS BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT
Chretien says immigration laws stand
| |
Prime
Minister Jean Chretien holds a news conference after the
opening day of the APEC leaders conference, Sunday.(CP/Fred
Chartrand) |
NAHLAH AYED
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (CP) - Anyone claiming
refugee status after arriving in Canada will get a fair hearing even
if it means some people will abuse the country's generous
immigration laws, Prime Minister Jean Chretien said Sunday.
Replying to criticism that lax entry laws have led
to the recent arrival of boatloads of illegal Chinese immigrants on
the West Coat, Chretien rejected suggestions Ottawa change its
humanitarian approach to immigration.
"You come by plane, you come by boat, you walk,
you swim - when you're on the ground, you say 'I want to be a
refugee,' and the laws of Canada apply," Chretien told a news
conference.
"We're not about to just return the people without hearing what
they have to say."
Chretien, who is attending the annual APEC leaders summit, met
with Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Sunday to ask for help in
stemming the flow of refugees coming from China's Fujian province.
Jiang agreed to collaborate with Ottawa to solve the problem.
However, Chinese leaders have suggested in the past that Ottawa's
slow refugee process is probably an incentive for illegal immigrants
because they believe they are guaranteed an extended stay in Canada.
Chretien and Jiang did not have an official bilateral meeting,
but talked at a scheduled "pull-aside" meeting held while leaders
were arriving for the summit opening ceremonies.
Chretien did not give particulars on what was discussed, but
indicated he understood why any country would dislike watching its
citizens seek refugee status claiming political persecution.
Canada is considering sending RCMP officers to China to gather
information and perhaps intercept boats carrying illegal immigrants
before they leave.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy explored options with his
Chinese counterpart in a meeting in Auckland last week and officials
said the RCMP and its counterpart in China will be making contact
soon.
The contacts could include sharing of information, posting RCMP
in Fujian province, or some mechanism of stopping the
people-smuggling boats from leaving in the first place.
A memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries in the
spring allows for co-operation in fighting crime, and the Chinese
have agreed to use the agreement to help solve the illegal immigrant
problem, officials said.
So far this summer, dilapidated boats have crossed the Pacific
carrying nearly 600 Chinese migrants, many of whom have claimed
refugee status after setting foot in Canada.
The latest boat, seized by Canadian officials Thursday, had more
than 150 Chinese illegals aboard.
Immigration officials suspect human smuggling is organized by
Chinese gangs, which reap huge profits from the operation.
© The Canadian Press, 1999
| 
