I don't like snow, but there are far worse things than a couple feet of the white stuff. So today, one of my wishes for 2008.
Immigration is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governments here in Canada; although for the most part we only hear about Québec having an active role in selecting immigrants for the "regular" class while the other provinces defer to Ottawa.
This is problematic in one respect. Law enforcement is a provincial responsibility. Yes, we have the Mounties, but they are under contract to most of the provinces who have elected not to have provincial patrols. And there is a big gap in running background checks to ensure people who are coming to Canada are doing do with integrity and not fraudulent intent or malicious aforethought.
I am aware of at least one person who came to Canada from the UK. It was known that he was on the sex offender registry in Britain, as is his ex-wife. He was put there because he abused his own kids. When the law got too hot for him, he decided to try Canada for luck; and what did he do? He abused a divorced mother's kids as well. And on top of that, he gets a work permit under false pretenses, after he comes to the country (not before, as procedure calls for).
In my opinion, blame falls to both the feds (for allowing the man to come in to Canada with a concealed weapon, among other things) and the province (for not doing its job in saying whether such and such person was acceptable).
I don't have a problem with Ontario having more say in who's welcome here; provided that helps to enhance our ethnic mix and the people have the skills that are needed. They should start taking such an active role, and the New Year is as good as time as any. But the OPP needs to do its part too, and call law enforcement in the donor country and find out if potential immigrants had a past. If so, the province should exercise its veto and say, "No." End of story, the person is personna non grata everywhere in Canada. Simple as that.
Because the buck stops at the top, it would be appropriate for the federal and provincial Attorneys-General to resign; for allowing an administrative environment that allows this and other pricks to abuse Canada's hospitality. Harper, McGuinty and all the other Premiers needs to say enough is enough.
Better still, 2008 should be the year when we think about whether immigration should have more of a law enforcement component. Many democratic countries like the UK combine their Immigration and Justice Departments, viewing potential external threats as a matter of national security. And in my opinion, when ill willed people abuse their or other people's kids, they have breached Canada's national security.
Why do I feel so strongly about this? Because my father was a political refugee. And while I have compassion for those who are seeking asylum for humanitarian or political reasons, I have absolutely no tolerance for criminals who just want out of their country so they can commit more crimes in ours.
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2 comments:
It should be pointed out that Québec's special arrangements and discretion on the selection of skilled workers was hammered out in the early 90's. The other provinces have Nominee Programs, which really only have the discretion to nominate people who have a job offer in that province, filling an essential occupations to have their permits and visas expedited by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
As for criminals, I can't imagine where the breakdown was, CIC requires Skilled Workers applying to present a clean police record, so perhaps for that man from Britain he was never actually charged with a crime but was put on the Sex offenders list.
Someone out there attempted to post a reply today under the handle "Withheld," and when I checked that name there was no way to verify who said it -- so I had to delete the comment.
My source is accurate. I reviewed the documents available. And as the matter is presently under adjudication at this time I have no further comment.
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