Ever since the arrival of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau’s ill-devised Charter of Rights and Freedoms almost thirty years ago, anyone somehow managing to set foot on Canadian soil has been afforded almost the same rights as any Canadian citizen, to the point where Canadians have asked themselves why anyone would even bother to become a citizen when non-citizens, including illegal immigrants or bogus refugees, often enjoy more rights and privileges than someone born in this country. The Charter has thus paved the way for Canada to be abused by criminals, potential terrorists and generally anyone else who doesn’t believe in filing an application for immigration through the proper channels.
Unlike other countries that deal with bogus refugees swiftly (by keeping them locked up while their files are processed and then deporting them just as quickly), Canada allows claimants to move around freely, a circumstance that many of them use to commit as many crimes as possible in the time span available to them. Once they’re told that their claim has been rejected, bogus refugees can still prolong their stay in Canada for several years by appealing the decision, and appealing and appealing … – you get the picture. Some have been in Canada for well over ten years and still continue to file one appeal after another (all paid for by the Canadian taxpayer).
Many, however, don’t bother with the appeals process and go underground instead. According to the auditor-general, for example, there are anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 dangerous foreign criminals roaming the country, and the authorities seem incapable of catching any one of them. This comes at a tremendous cost to Canadians, not only in monetary terms, but also in terms of blood, as many of those illegals commit heinous and violent crimes.
In view of rising bogus refugee claims filed by arrivals from Mexico and the Czech Republic, Canada’s immigration minister Jason Kenney has now imposed visa requirements for travellers from both these countries. Needless to say that the EU has taken up the fight on behalf of the Czech Republic, an EU member state, and threatened to retaliate by requiring Canadians travelling to Europe to have valid visas.
In its defence of the Czech Republic, the EU says that Canada shouldn’t worry about all those Roma seeking refuge in Canada and that they do have valid claims. However, this position reveals – yet again – the hypocrisy and corruption of the eurocrats. If the Roma in the Czech Republic are legitimate refugees, then what does that say about the situation in the country? Wouldn’t that indicate that the Czech Republic’s domestic turmoil was so severe that its expulsion from the European club was warranted?
Brussels wants to have it both ways: keep the Czech Republic within its fold and have the Roma recognized as legitimate refugees. Sorry, but that “argument” won’t fly in the real world. Either the Czech Republic is a stable democracy where people’s rights are protected, or it’s not, in which case it no longer meets the requirements for EU membership.
If a member of the Roma tribe really feels the need to leave the Czech Republic, there’s nothing stopping him or her from going to any of the other 26 EU member states. After all, under international law, refugees are supposed to go the nearest safe haven, and not shop around for the “best deal”. As such, Canada is not the “nearest safe haven” for anyone, and technically wouldn’t have to accept any refugees whatsoever.
Canadians shouldn’t be expected to shed tears for Roma “refugees”. Most still remember the high-profile case in Calgary a couple of years ago, when a group of ten or so of them, all illegals, went on a robbery spree – and when finally caught by the police, they still had the gall to fight their deportation, almost as if it was their right to enter Canada and steal from Canadians.
This is not to say that all Roma are thieves, but unfortunately for them, a very high percentage of them are. This is why Canada must require visas and thorough background checks, because it has a duty to protect its own citizens first and foremost – rather than to accommodate a bunch of bogus refugees.
Meanwhile, the EU has proved again that it’s a rogue and morally corrupt organization that won’t respect other countries’ sovereign rights.
The EU 'braintrust' are clearly lacking in the intelligence department.
Even if you were to believe the poppycock about Canada having no valid reason to impose the visa restrictions, why the would any of the EU wastelands think that imposing a retalitory visa requirement on Canadians is a good idea? Holy crap guys, suck up your arrogant european pride and get over it. If they actually move forward with visa requirements for Canadians, the only thing they will accomplish is a reduction in tourism by Canadians in Europe. And considering the disasterous state of the European economies right now, is that really the result they want? In essence, they will hurt themselves without actually punishing Canadians at all (except for those latte Liberal types who hate Canada and worship Europe every chance they get, and truth be told, I kinda get a kick out of watching them get all huffy and pissed off).
Come to think of it, this is really a win-win situation for Canada. Our visa requirements reduce the bogus refugee claims. Canadian Liberals feel slighted. And the possible EU visa requirements will keep more of our own tourists spending their money at home.
And when you really step back and think about the whole situation, why is any of this a big deal? I've travelled to many countries that required me to obtain a visa. It's not really that diffcult a process. It's nothing to get too upset about. It's a very minor inconvenience, that's easily solved, with the added benefit of having some level of screening of those entering a new country.
Posted by: Dave Hodson | July 16, 2009 at 09:05 PM
Unfortunately, Brussels today is the new 1930s Berlin, with the "EuroNazis" trying to tell everyone (even outside Europe) what to do and how to do it.
The EU must return to being nothing more than a free-trade area, or it must be dissolved entirely.
I agree with you, Dave, obtaining a visa is no big deal (if your record is clean and you have nothing to hide). In fact, given the number of terrorists and criminals migrating one from point A to point B today, every country should require visas for everyone.
Posted by: Werner Patels | July 16, 2009 at 09:48 PM
The bEUrocratic infestation and nonsense that is Brussels has to be tackled. We have been pretty tolerant in this country with their carry on from overfishing in our waters, turbot wars, seals, tariffs, protectionism, meat and grain levy import restrictions et al the last 15 years where common sense in most of these eurobourgeosies has gone out the window. So we have to get a visa? Big deal! Bring it on and show the world what a bunch of hypocrites you all are in Montreal's twinned city of Brussels.
It is time we support true freedom loving Europeans who are tired of the 'EuroNazis' goosestepping policies shoved down all their throats as this is what the issue is truly about.
It is also critical that if you have friends, relations and business colleagues in Ireland to ask them to be brave and resist that flawed document called the Lisbon Treaty on behalf of all who cherish democratic freedom again on October 2nd. That treaty even with concessions is still flawed. Flaws are bad for every sector of a society from trade unions to farmers to teachers to business corporations where legal negotiations are not iron clad where they are open to be reneged. Way too many patched up loopholes! Since when do governments and especially the bEUrocratic politicans ever tell the honest truth by their actions? For free thinking enterprising Irish people in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, Lisbon promises are just that no matter what good intentions your party faithful negotiate as Brussels have their own aganda- not Ireland's or other national governments. Flawed documents get rejected daily in everyday life and that's all people are voting on- not emotion!
The Irish people are not stupid and if there is doubt, the vote will again be nought for Brussels as it should be only on those merits. Shame on you undemocratic bEUrocrats pushing this junk through again intimidating smaller democratic loving national governments.
Posted by: SoContent | July 17, 2009 at 08:49 AM
This is a typical result with a government the believes that your rights are granted to you by the permission of the state rather then the government is there to protect your natural rights.The fatal flaw in our charter is that it was written to grant rights to the people not protect the self evident rights of which we already believed to be true , but to set up a frame work to which the rights will be granted and then protected. Government frameworks break down quickly when put into effect and are all ways easily abused. By governments granting the rights to people it can then become a political tool to which the rights can be dished out to new comer to game the political system to and sway votes to that party, almost like a vote inflation if you will.
Note:
I believe strongly in immigration many of my closest hardest working friends are immigrants. Immigrants who come here contribute to the economy help grow our pool of knowledge and labour are great assets to the country and I welcome them to become citizens of our Canadian society. I also believe if we remove the hand outs new immigrants get and encourage self reliance and innovation (This would be great if we did that for our own citizens) amongst the new comers we could then lower immigration standards and get more people in the country sooner which will help us with our future workforce.
Posted by: Calgary Libertarian | July 18, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Fully agree with you on that one. The only problem is that in Canada, this is not the way things work. Of all immigrants, only 23% end up being "net tax contributors" (i.e., an asset to Canada), while the remaining 77% cost us, the taxpayers, $18 billion (minimum!).
Posted by: Werner Patels | July 18, 2009 at 01:08 PM