Posted on 10/02/2007 6:46:31 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is urging Ottawa to help deal with an influx of Mexican and Haitian refugees in the province.
In Windsor, Ont., more than 300 refugees have claimed refugee status after crossing into the province by bus from Detroit.
"These refugees aren't so much coming to Windsor as they're coming to Canada, and this is properly a federal responsibility,'' McGuinty said Monday following a campaign event in the border city.
Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis has said that city services are being pushed to the limit because of the situation.
He estimates that housing and social assistance for the refugees is costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Last Friday, Francis met with a Jacques Sinjuste, founder of Jerusalem Haitian Community Centre in Florida.
Sinjuste, accused of being responsible for sending a wave of immigrants to Windsor, told Francis there are more busloads on the way.
"He gave specific reference as to one that will be coming the first week of October and they've already made accommodation arrangements on the Detroit side of the border," Francis said.
Social assistance
Currently, 185 of the 300 refugees are being given social assistance in Windsor.
Francis has written the federal and provincial governments asking for funding to help cover the cost of keeping the refugees housed while they wait for their refugee claims to be heard.
The province at present pays about 80 per cent of the costs while municipalities take care of the rest.
McGuinty said the province will be sending more cash to help deal with the situation.
"No single Canadian community should have to assume all the financial costs associated with those refugees on their own,'' he said, adding that he is asking the federal government to also help out.
Most of the immigrants have arrived with the help of Florida-based groups who say Canada has special permits to provide Mexican and Haitian citizens claiming refugee status a quick turn around.
Last week, Canada's Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said there would be "consequences" for any illegal refugees who try to enter Canada without proper documentation.
Day said Canada will take a zero-tolerance approach to anyone trying to enter the country illegally, but wanted to investigate specific claims in Windsor more closely.
Refugee status
Most of the claims have little chance of success.
It has been reported that the immigrants may not be covered under Canadian refugee status, meant to be given to people with a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country.
According to the Geneva Convention, persecution must be based on reasons of race, nationality, membership of a specific social group or political opinion. Gender, in some cases, can also be a factor.
Also, those applying from a "safe third country," such as the U.S., are ineligible to make refugee claims at a Canadian border crossing by land.
If Mexicans come to Canada through the U.S., for example, they must make refugee claims there, and are not eligible here.
Meanwhile, a U.S. refugee worker was charged last week with human smuggling in Quebec, after she allegedly tried to help 12 asylum-seeking Haitians enter Canada.
Janet Hinshaw-Thomas, 65, may be the first human rights worker ever charged under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
With files from The Canadian Press
What the heck is a Mexican refugee?
Like U.S. scum bag draft dodgers in the 60s and 70s. Suck it up Canada.
Con artist?
Wait until the newcomers learn that they have to accomodate the French speakers of Quebec.
“Welcome to Canada. Now learn English...or French.”
Oh Canada.
LOL. The French will just have to get over it.
Mexico's president:'“I have said that Mexico does not stop at its border, that wherever there is a Mexican, there is Mexico,”
A good question. Not only has the premier of Ontario called the influx "refugees" but so has Stockwell Day (Stocks) a federal minister has too.
The first round has been lost.
Not only has the premier of Ontario called the influx of persons,"refugees",but so has Stockwell Day (Stocks), a federal minister.
The first round has been lost.
Camp of the Saints. The refugee racket in action.
Reading a number of replies on a number of threads on this topic, I can only assume that Americans have no objection in principle to illegal migration of people from one country to another - just to those illegal migrants being in the US. I thought part of being conservative meant having principles that you stuck to whether they result in outcomes in your favor or not. Apparently a lot of people on this forum think that dumping your illegal immigration problem on a neighbor is just fine.
I do not hold that opinion. Hopefully, Canada’s Parliament will act more quickly than our ossified Congress and address this before it becomes a problem.
Fair comment here, but..... I take the liberty of adding my two cents worth. It seems that the problem to the United States is just not one of expense and inconvenience. Literally a whole well ordered, if not a completely perfect, way of life has been threatened. This not only in the South West, but in small towns well to the north. I suppose people want to lash out blindly.
We had some coverage on the Canadian television last night. You may have seen it. I would like to update others with what we saw. A low budget motel has been utilized. Other quite decent but modest rooms have been appropriated.
A gentleman of middle-age and a Windsor resident mentioned that Canadian homeless in Windsor, sleep in a gymnasium with mattresses on the floor. He said the newcomers get a room. I would observe the federal and provincial authorities have fallen hook line and sinker, for the tag "refugees". 14 months processing ahead before a decision.
A woman with four children was from Haiti. She was healthy and very happy- well bless her anyway. Bless the taxpayers too. She mentioned that shootings and beatings occurred in her home country . I looked for her man- I did not see him. (sigh)
“Fair comment here, but..... I take the liberty of adding my two cents worth. It seems that the problem to the United States is just not one of expense and inconvenience. Literally a whole well ordered, if not a completely perfect, way of life has been threatened. This not only in the South West, but in small towns well to the north. I suppose people want to lash out blindly.”
I understand and sympathize with the plight of the US in dealing with its illegal immigration problems, and I’m sure it does cause a lot of frustration. I apologize to posters here who have gotten the impression that Canadians judge Americans negatively on their approach to illegal immigration. Sad to say, I know that many of my countrymen do think that “Americans are just being big meanies.” I also know that most Canadians wouldn’t be pleased to see a similar influx of 3rd-world immigrants here - the legal immigrants and (many only so-called) refugees from 3rd world countries we have and continue to receive now cause enough social problems already.
Still, Canada is not a major source or cause of illegal immigration to the US, and we are for the most part a good neighbour. In light of that I don’t think we deserve a lot of what gets thrown at us on this forum. Yeah, I know, it’s a forum for Americans and we can always go elsewhere.
I wouldn’t bet on it, although clearly Canada could not possibly absorb a significant proportion the US’s illegal immigrants - we just don’t have enough houses to build, yards to landscape, or chickens to process to employ them all.
A little of the polite "edjumacate" will win friends.
Your comment indicates to me how touchy a subject this is with Americans. At a border town 330 miles north of Windsor, we are safe- so far. Heck, we have enough transients coming off the Trans-Canada highway. A free room, a free breakfast and 15 dollars- sometimes a bus ticket.
I do not think my city could stand 500 illegals, let alone double that number. No, I do not blame anyone here. First, the system of an exaggerated, almost euphoric concern for "refugees". The usual suspects- do-gooders who then wash their hands of ANY RESPONSIBILITY. Second, a jolly old free ride.
An immigrant myself, I just may have never got off my keyster, if I had what they have. (laughs) - pardon the screed, at least I feel better for leading off. Now back to Rush.
That what it should be, but emotions get in the way, even with FReepers.
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