2010-09 (September)
September 24th, 2010
Human Trafficking
As I have travelled around the constituency this summer, many have commented about their concern that Canada is becoming a target for human smugglers and human trafficking. Human smuggling and human trafficking are horrible crimes that prey on innocent people. These crimes cannot be tolerated.
In the spring session, our Conservative Government passed the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, a bill that was reluctantly supported by the opposition, but was agreed upon and has now been given royal assent and is the law of the land. Implementation of the bill is proceeding and is scheduled to be completed within 18 months. The bill creates a new system for asylum claims (refugees) where the processing of a refugee application will be significantly more efficient at weeding out bogus refugee claims.
The changes have been made to ensure that refugee claims can be handled more quickly. If a refugee has their claim denied, they will be asked to leave the country. Claimants who do not leave voluntarily will be deported much faster than before. We have also changed the appeal process so that claimants wishing to appeal the decision can only do so one time.
While the ship currently in port in Victoria falls under the old refugee system, within a year all ships who attempt to land in Canada will be dealt with under the new legislation. Balanced Refugee Reform, when implemented, will ensure smugglers and traffickers do not use Canada as a haven for business. Our new legislation will ensure refugees who truly deserve our help will receive it. We will deal fairly and expeditiously with claimants who are denied. We are ensuring a process that is swift, fair, and gives Canadian authorities the tools and systems needed to return failed claimants to their country of origin.
Canada has a generous and fair immigration and refugee system. Not only is human smuggling illegal and dangerous, it also tarnishes the process for legitimate migrants who seek to come to Canada by legal means. Our government will seek to prosecute those responsible for human smuggling to the maximum extent of the law while protecting the integrity of our refugee determination system. It will be important to ensure that legitimate newcomers to Canada have the capacity to be successfully and rapidly integrated into our society and into our economy. We need an immigration system that brings us the people with the skills that we require. We also need balanced refugee reforms to help those who truly need our protection.
Please contact my Constituency office for assistance or for information on federally related matters, postage free at: Bay #6, 4612 - 50th Street, Ponoka, T4J 1S7 tel: (403) 783-5530; toll free: 1-800-665-0865 or visit my web site: www.blainecalkinsmp.ca