Immigrating Through Human Smuggling May Not be Worth The Price Now

In the light of the of the arrest of the Ocean Lady this week, the currently ruling Conservative government aims to bring back the Bill C-49 against human smuggling to discourage people from immigrating to Canada. Jason Kenney, the immigration minister wants it back roughly unchanged.

NEED As stated by Kenney in an interview, the bill is needed because it to avoid immigration in the country. The need becomes all the more necessary to avoid stalling of any negotiations with the United States concerning their new economic as well as security agreements. Moreover, it is a giant step against the human smugglers who are paid heavily in return to getting people to Canada on a regular basis.

CRITICISM According to government’s critics, the Bill is targeted towards the wrong people. It is already known that anyone who is involved in the illegal immigration of a person into Canada can be sent behind the bars for life or is subjected to a fine worth $1 million. Plus, the critics say that the bill breaches the commitments of the country under the UN Convention on Refugees and also the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

PITFALLS OF THE PREVIOUS BILL Don Davies, NDP MP admitted that the previous bill was quite complex to understand. It is misunderstood with jagged movement of refugees. He further went to say that the previous bill couldn’t make any distinction between illegal migrants and the genuine ones who could escape the persecution. According to him, his party wants to discourage human trafficking in which people come to Canada for illegal activities.

CONTENTS OF THE NEW BILL C-49 would make it obligatory for those who found guilty to be nabbed for a year or wait for the decision of the Immigration and Refugee Board. IT aims to block all kind of efforts of the people to permanent settle down in the country and bring their family members as well.
MEASURES ADOPTED – The Canadian government is likely to adopt the following ways under the bill:

• The operators and the owners of the ship will be held liable.
• Cancelling the refugee position of a person who doesn’t need the country’s shelter
• Confirming that benefits received by an illegal migrant are less generous than those available to a regular Canadian citizen.

FURTHER EFFORTS Jason Kenney also stated in an interview that they are attempting to raise the cost of taking the voyage (the earlier price point is $45,000) so that people are unable to afford the hugely expensive immigration to Canada. Hence, it becomes difficult for people to quickly sponsor their family members as Canada’s family reunification will get harder than earlier.