More Tamil migrant ships may be headed to Canada
Posted August 14, 2010 10:51 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It is expected to take several months to process the nearly 500 Tamils who arrived at Vancouver Island in a rusty cargo ship, Friday, after three months at sea.
Dozens of children were on board the ship. They were fingerprinted and photographed to determine if they had any criminal records.
And now the Harper government said they are looking for ways to discourage anymore ships like that from coming across.
In fact, as these Tamil migrants are processed, hundreds more could be headed to Canadian shores aboard at least two other ships.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews called this a test of Canada because we are being watched by other human smugglers in the third world.
“We want to send a very clear message – not only to individuals currently involved, but who may be watching this particular situation – to make it very clear that this is an activity that Canada does not encourage.”
Toews added Canada has generous immigration and refugee laws and Ottawa will not allow them to be abused.
The MV Sun Sea is the second ship to arrive in Canada in 10 months. Back in October, the Ocean Lady brought more than 71 Tamil migrants to B.C.
