Canada Immigration 加拿大移民

Concern Grows as Canada's Population Ages

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

 Monday, 23 February 2009

Government and Business officials are growing increasingly more concerned over an aging skilled labour population at all levels of employment.

Since the early 1980's, there have been forecasts that should have prepared companies for the consequences of poor long term planning, and it seems as though businesses are reaching a critical state.

Current infrastructure relies heavily on a population that is approaching retirement, and will need to act quickly in order to fill the gaps left behind.

Canadian provincial governments have begun to implement new and more diverse provincial immigration programs that target areas that are facing critical labour shortages in the immediate future. The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP's) tend to favour immigrants who are able to satisfy the immediate needs of each individual province, while offering a potentially expedited immigration process for those looking to eventually settle permanently in Canada.

If you are interested in Visas to Canada, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Canada.

Obama arrives in Canada with immigration, economics and environment on the agenda

There was snow on the ground in Ottawa yesterday as Air Force One touched down for Barack Obama's deliberately low key, first trip abroad as president.

President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper walk down the Hall of Honour for a joint news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

In a moment replete with symbolism, Mounties in red uniforms gave the salute as Mr Obama was greeted by Canada's Governor General, Haitian born Michaëlle Jean. It was meant to be perfunctory encounter between Canada's acting head of state (in the Queen's absence) and the president, but it turned instead into a lengthy closed door session between the two black political leaders.

Mr Obama is interested in the success of Canada's immigration model and he was learning first hand from a woman whose family fled Haiti as refugees from the regime of Dictator Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier.

The way out of the quandary

DEPORTATION AND TORTURE

February 23, 2009

Canada should follow Britain's example and seek to deport foreign terror suspects, even to states that use torture, but only after officials at the highest levels - the foreign minister or prime minister - extract assurances of humane treatment from their counterparts in the other countries. It is the only way out of the quandary in which democracies find themselves with foreign suspects, and Britain's highest court endorsed it unanimously last week.

King Abdullah of Jordan gave his assurance to former prime minister Tony Blair in the case of Abu Qatada, an incendiary preacher, and the British Law Lords said that assurance passed legal muster. Mr. Qatada is appealing the ruling to the European Court of Human Rights. (The Law Lords' ruling also permits the deportation of two other terror suspects to Algeria.)

This ruling has a strong message for Canada and other democracies. European law contains an absolute prohibition against deporting to torture. No exceptions are permitted. Canadian law is not as absolute. If it makes sense and is legally possible in Britain, it should make a good escape hatch from the box in which Canada finds itself.

Here is the box: When suspected foreign terrorists are identified, they are taken before a court and, if found a danger to the nation's security, are ordered deported. But if they can make a credible case that they will be tortured in their home country, it's almost impossible to deport them. The result is they may be held in jail without criminal charge for several years. This is repugnant, but releasing those deemed a danger to national security seems untenable.

Canada appears to prefer the untenable to the repugnant. Its courts have lost their will to hold these suspected terrorists in jail. A half-dozen suspected al-Qaeda members have been released in the past few years by the Federal Court of Canada. The civilian spy agency CSIS spends nearly $600,000 to keep a round-the-clock eye on a single one.

The Supreme Court of Canada has said their dangerousness declines over time, but the evidence for this is virtually non-existent. It began as the bald assertion of a Federal Court judge who said they lose their contacts after years in jail, and their notoriety means the public can turn them in if they violate bail conditions. As if Hassan Almrei, for example, has a face any Canadian would recognize.

The Law Lords' ruling challenges the conventional wisdom of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that if you have to ask for an assurance, it won't be worth the paper it's written on. Some Canadians may share the agencies' concerns; after all, the United States has said it asked Syria for a promise that Maher Arar would not be tortured. (An independent report by Stephen Toope, now president of the University of British Columbia, found that he was.)

But the Law Lords stress that the assurance needs to be made in good faith. Further, there must be a sound, objective basis for believing the assurance; and there must be an agreement on how to verify whether the assurance was kept.

The Law Lords noted that Algeria wants international acceptance as a normal civil society, and that close and growing business and security ties exist between it and Britain. "Very considerable efforts have been made at the highest political levels on both sides to strengthen these ties," said an immigration tribunal's ruling, cited approvingly by the Law Lords. "It is barely conceivable, let alone likely, that the Algerian government would put them at risk by reneging on solemn assurances. Nor is there any reason to suppose that the British government would turn a blind eye if they did."

The purpose of Canada's security-certificate system is to deny a place in this country to those who put its security at risk. Britain's example shows that it is possible to do so within democratic norms.

Former President and War Criminal George W Coming to Canada, March 17

Global Research, February 24, 2009

by Lawyers against War

LAW says Bush should be barred from Canada or Prosecuted

From Lawyers against the War: Please participate in this important initiative. LAW contact information is below.

Attention LAW members;

George W. Bush, former President of the United States of America (U.S.) and Commander in Chief of the Armed Force, is reported to be coming to Calgary Alberta on March 17, 2009 to speak at a private function. Evidence of Bush's involvement in torture and other war crimes and crimes against humanity has triggered Canada's legal duty to bar Bush from entering Canada and if he enters, to prosecute him for torture.

LAW has advised the Prime Minister of Canada, the Attorney General and the Ministers of Immigration, Public Safety and Foreign Affairs that George W. Bush is inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Section 35(1) (a) states that a foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of violating human or international rights or for committing an act outside Canada that constitutes an offence referred to in sections 4 to 7 of the Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes Act. Also inadmissiable (s.35 (1)(b)) are persons who are, or were, senior officials "in the service of a government that, in the opinion of the Minister, engages or has engaged in gross human rights violations…"

Under sections 4 to 7 of the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act:

"crimes against humanity" includes murder, enforced disappearance, deportation, imprisonment, torture, imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law, committed against any civilian population or any identifiable group. "war crime" includes wilfull killing, torture and inhuman treatment, unlawful confinement, willfully depriving a prisoner of war or other protected person of fair trial rights, intentionally launching that the attack will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects or widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipated.

If there are reasonable grounds to believe a person has been complicit in any of these crimes, entry to Canada must be denied. The Supreme Court of Canada says reasonable grounds are "something more than suspicion but less than…proof on the balance of probabilities."

Please:

a) let us know if you would like to add your signature to this letter; and,
b) distribute the letter and the request for endorsement to other groups and individuals. c) post the letter on your site.

Thanks.

Gail Davidson
Lawyers Against the War Tel: +1 604 738-0338 Fax: +1 604 736-1175 Email: law@portal.ca  
Website: www.lawyersagainstthewar.org  

 Global Research Articles by Lawyers against War

CUPE boss' comments irk minister irk Minister

JEWISH STUDENTS

Posted By ELIZABETH THOMPSON, SUN MEDIA

Posted 6 hours ago

The head of one of Canada's largest labour unions has created an environment on Canadian campuses that could foster verbal attacks on Jewish students, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney charged yesterday.

Speaking to reporters, Kenney said comments critical of Israel made by Sid Ryan, president of the Canadian Union of Public Emp l o y e e s Ontario, are "unacceptable."

" I'm not saying he's inciting anyone to violence," Kenney explained. "I'm saying he's using totally irresponsible

language which is reinforcing a very dangerous opinion environment for many Jewish students on our campuses."

Kenney cited the example of recent incident at York University where Jewish students ended up taking refuge in the campus Hillel office after a clash with other students.

"This stuff is getting out of control," said Kenney. Kenney called on the members of CUPE Ontario to get rid of Ryan. " e consequence, I would hope, is that ordinary CUPE members who believe their union dues should be going to support the advocacy of their rights as workers will re Sid Ryan."

Ryan sparked controversy earlier this year when he likened Israel's attack on a university in Gaza to Nazi attacks on educational institutions. He later apologized for the comments.

Minister Kenney Announces Appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canadaupdated 10:52 a.m. ET Feb. 17, 2009

updated 10:52 a.m. ET Feb. 17, 2009

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, today announced 12 full-time appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).

Sherif Atallah, Roxane Cyr, Mariam Sarwar Pal, Phares Pierre, Sonia Rodrigue and Jocelyne Senecal were appointed for three-year terms in the Montreal office. Douglas John Cryer, Jacques Fortin, John Gerald Kivlichan and Marie-Claude Andree Yaacov were appointed for three-year terms in the Toronto office. Larry James Campbell and Douglas Bruce Fortney were appointed for three-year terms in the Vancouver office. These appointments were made in accordance with the IRB's merit-based appointment process.

The Minister is committed to delivering on his promise to fill vacancies on the Board with qualified individuals as quickly as possible. With today's announcement of 12 appointments, and the Minister's announcement of 13 appointments and three reappointments on January 23, 2009, the Board now stands at close to 90 percent of its full complement. With a lower vacancy rate on the IRB, genuine refugee claims will be processed and finalized faster, while frivolous asylum applications will be dismissed more quickly.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Atallah was a Corporate Communications Consultant with David & Goliath Communications Marketing. He also held positions with Diners Club International (Canada), the most recent being Assistant Vice-President, Branding & Marketing Communications. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Communications from McGill University.

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Cyr was a Tribunal Officer at the IRB. She also held the positions of Hearings Officer with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Parole Officer with the Correctional Service of Canada. Ms. Cyr has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Ottawa.

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Pal worked as a consultant specializing in economic analysis and legal research. She was also a lawyer in private practice, providing assistance to employees of international organizations involved in grievance processes(VR1). She has held the positions of Economist with the Asian Development Bank in the Philippines and Senior Social Policy Expert with the African Development Bank. Ms. Pal received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Victoria, her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and her Master of Arts in Economics from McGill University, as well as her Bachelor of Laws from McGill University.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Pierre was Director of International Development for Miro Media. Mr. Pierre holds an Honours Bachelor of Mathematics, with a specialization in Secondary Education and a minor in Administration and Political Science, from the Universite du Quebec a Montreal.

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Rodrigue was a lawyer in private practice, specializing in immigration and refugee law in Montreal. She was also a lawyer with the law firm William, Aguilar and Associates in Montreal. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Universite Laval. Ms. Rodrigue was called to the Barreau du Quebec in 1991.

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Senecal was a Tribunal Officer at the IRB. She also worked in a number of other positions within the IRB, including those of Research Officer in the documentation centre and Case Officer in the registry. Ms. Senecal did her studies in nursing and social sciences at the Cegep du Vieux Montreal.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Cryer was Director of Development for New Connections Ministries, which offers a one-year recovery program for addicts and ex-offenders. He has also held the position of Director of Public Policy with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. He has extensive experience as a Legislative Assistant and has pastored Christian churches in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Mr. Cryer received his Bachelor of Religious Education from the Alberta Bible College.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Fortin was a notary in private practice in Gatineau. He was also a lawyer in private practice in Montreal and in Hull. Mr. Fortin has a Bachelor of Arts, a Licentiate in Laws and a Diploma in Notarial Law from the University of Ottawa. Mr. Fortin was called to the Barreau du Quebec in 1969 and to the Chambre des notaires du Quebec in 1987.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Kivlichan was a Tribunal Officer with the IRB. He also held the positions of Intermediate Accountant with Orenstein and Partners as well as Staff Accountant with Peat Marwick. He received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and his Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Kivlichan was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1982.

Prior to her appointment to the Board, Ms. Yaacov was Legal Counsel for the Durham Children's Aid Society. She has also held the position of Legal Counsel for the Children's Aid Societies of Brant and Toronto. She has been a Program Consultant and Settlement Project Officer with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Ms. Yaacov received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University, her Master of Arts from the University of Toronto and her Bachelor of Laws from the Osgoode Hall Law School.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Campbell was Vice Chair and previously Senior Vice Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal in British Columbia. He has also held the positions of Vice Chair and Member of the Workers' Compensation Review Board, and Client Services Manager and Case Manager with the Worker's Compensation Board of British Columbia. Mr. Campbell received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calgary and his Master of Business Administration in International Business from the Cass Business School of the City University in London, England.

Prior to his appointment to the Board, Mr. Fortney was an independent Management Consultant specializing in the fields of international business development, finance and treasury. He was the Vice-President, Project Financing, of SNC-Lavalin Capital in Montreal. He also held several positions with Export Development Canada, the most recent being Chief Representative for Mexico. Mr. Fortney received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba and his Bachelor in Public Administration as well as his Master of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa.

Created in 1989, the IRB is an independent administrative tribunal that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. The Board has three divisions-the Refugee Protection Division, the Immigration Appeal Division and the Immigration Division. The IRB determines refugee protection claims made in Canada, hears immigration appeals, and conducts admissibility hearings and detention reviews.

Contacts:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Minister's Office
Alykhan Velshi

Alykhan.Velshi@cic.gc.ca

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Communications Branch
Media Relations

613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

© MarketWire 2009

Crackdown on labour violations coming

Ottawa to tackle abuse of foreign workers

Feb 24, 2009 04:30 AM

Bruce Campion-Smith
OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF

OTTAWA – The federal government intends to bring in new regulations to punish employers who exploit foreign workers by forcing them to toil in poor working conditions for low pay.

The new rules, expected by the end of March, would prevent employers with repeated violations of labour laws from being allowed to bring in foreign workers, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney told the Star.

"I will be coming forward with draft regulations later in the spring to look at ensuring that the employers who abuse the system, a small minority, are ineligible to use it," he said in an interview.

But Kenney says the government has no intention of turning off the tap on the tens of thousands of workers who arrive from abroad to fill jobs in Canada, despite rising unemployment.

"We do anticipate there will be a reduction in applications for temporary workers and work permits because of the downturn ... but there continues to be acute labour shortages in certain regions and industries so the program will be useful to those employers," he said.

Just last week, Kenney said he and Human Resources Minister Diane Finley met with representatives from the food and restaurant industry who pressed for more foreign help.

"They're still desperately crying out for more temporary foreign workers because they say they advertise for line cooks, for waiters and are unable to get people in Canada," Kenney said.

But opposition politicians are concerned the temporary foreign worker program robs Canadians of jobs, and that foreign workers are being exploited and abused.

Kenney said the proposed regulations would address concerns about employers abusing workers.

"In a tiny fraction of cases there are abuses," he said. "We're aware of those and we're prepared to take additional regulatory action, for instance, to bar employers who have multiple offences from ... applying for work permits."

Currently, Ottawa can't take action against an employer found in violation on provincial labour laws on issues such as working conditions or wage rates, he said.

Liberal Senator Pierrette Ringuette says Ottawa has a duty to better police the temporary foreign workers program and ensure that unemployed Canadians aren't being shut out of jobs by workers brought in from abroad.

"The temporary foreign workers program, it's exactly that. It's temporary and should be adjusted to the circumstances," she said.

Underfunding war crimes program lets criminals avoid deportation: Report

By Marianne White, Canwest News Service February 23, 2009

Canada’s War Crimes program has limited financial and human resources to investigate all alleged war criminals and deny them safe haven or prosecute them, according to a new federal report.

Among them is Leon Mugesera, a Rwandan man now living in Quebec City who was deemed a war criminal by the Supreme Court of Canada and ordered out of the country in 2005. He is still in Canada and exhausting all legal avenues.

Leon Mugesera and his lawyer confer in 1995. Not until a decade later was he convicted of war crimes in Rwanda, but he is still in Canada in 2009, critics point out.

Photograph by: Tedd Church, Montreal Gazette

Quebec City who was deemed a war criminal by the Supreme Court of Canada and ordered out of the country in 2005. He is still in Canada and exhausting all legal avenues.

In its 2006-07 annual report on Canada’s Program on Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) noted that it faces challenges to balance its heavy caseload with its budget.

The report notes that “continued funding pressures” force the agency to focus on “the most cost-effective measures,” such as early detection and preventing war criminals from entering Canada.

Sergio Karas, a Toronto immigration lawyer, said what upsets him more than the underfunding of the war crimes program is that so many convicted war criminals manage to stretch out their stay for years, even decades.

“I fail to understand why they get so many kicks at the can,” Karas said. “Canada likes to pride itself as a compassionate nation, but do war criminals who have blood on their hands deserve any compassion?”

Bruce Broomhall, an international law professor at the University of Quebec at Montreal and an adviser to the Canadian Centre for International Justice (CCIJ), said the underfunding of the program prevents the government from prosecuting more war criminals.

“The (agency) is expressing these concerns in a diplomatic way, but what it means is that they don’t have enough funding to pursue all the possible cases with the most robust measures possible and they have to be selective and focusing on preventive measures,” he said.

Broomhall said that prevention can only deny access to new war criminals but does nothing to deal with those who are already in Canada.

“This has to be complimented by efforts to ensure that people are held criminally accountable for their actions,” Broomhall said, noting that the war crimes program has been lauded throughout the world.

The number of immigrants — found to have been involved in war crimes or crimes against humanity — who were deported by Canada in 2007 was down to 35 from 41 in 2006. During that time, officials prevented 361 persons from coming to Canada.

The report, posted Friday on the CBSA website, also noted that at the end of March 2007, the agency had 59 enforceable removal orders as well as 162 outstanding warrants for people who did not report for removal.

The report says in 2006-07, CBSA officials filed 82 interventions at refugee hearings in cases involving war crime allegations. This number is significantly down from 237 the previous year, in part because of a lack of resources.

“Some regions have had to deal with staff turnover or understaffing, and with no budget increase in 10 years, had to concentrate on the most serious cases, which are most likely to succeed,” the report states.

The annual funding of $15.6 million per year has not changed since the program was launched in 1998.

The CBSA and Citizenship and Immigration Canada get the lion’s share of this budget, which is also shared with the Justice Department and the RCMP.

Only one alleged war criminal has been brought to justice in Canada. Desire Munyaneza has been charged in connection with the 1994 Rwandan genocide. His trial alone has cost an estimated $1.6 million and lasted more than a year and a half. It concluded last December and a verdict is expected to be months away.

The CBSA also mentions in the report its efforts to revoke the citizenship of Canadians found guilty of war crimes and genocide related to the Second World War. While Michael Seifert, known as the “Beast of Bolzano” for his cruelty to inmates in a prison camp in northern Italy, was extradited in February 2008 to Italy, six other cases are still pending.

The government is currently assessing if Jura Skomatczuk, Josef Furman, Vladimir Katriuk, Helmut Oberlander, Wasyl Odynsky and Jacob Fast will see their citizenship revoked.

A spokeswoman for CBSA declined to comment Monday on program funding and stressed the agency reviews all “(war crime) allegations and ensures that appropriate action is taken.”

© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

U of T students deported

by Raphael Deketele

Two former University of Toronto students are back in Guyana, their country of origin, after losing a battle against a deportation order from Immigration Canada. They left on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 – the deadline set by their deportation order.

Steve and Trisha Sherman lived in Toronto since 2002 when they left the South American country of Guyana due to racial tensions between East Indians and blacks. Steve Sherman said though they had not personally experienced any violence they still felt at risk. At the time of their deportation, they had been seeking refugee status in Canada for seven years.

Two former University of Toronto students are back in Guyana, their country of origin, after losing a battle against a deportation order from Immigration Canada. They left on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 – the deadline set by their deportation order.

Steve and Trisha Sherman lived in Toronto since 2002 when they left the South American country of Guyana due to racial tensions between East Indians and blacks. Steve Sherman said though they had not personally experienced any violence they still felt at risk. At the time of their deportation, they had been seeking refugee status in Canada for seven years.

On Jan. 21, Immigration Canada officially rejected the Shermans’ request for refugee status under the Immigration and Refugee Board Act. The siblings were told to leave the country by Feb 11.

Both siblings attended U of T’s Scarborough campus. Trisha Sherman, 24, was two credits away from graduating with a BA in political science, and Steve Sherman was in his third year of an environmental studies program.

Just before leaving, Steve estimated he would need another two years before he would graduate. Having been forced to leave Canada, Sherman questioned whether he will finish his degree at all.

The Shermans were not permitted to defer their deportation until after they graduated because they attended university illegally, as they did not come to Canada on student visas.

Steve and Trisha were the first people in their family to attend university in any country. “Our family has never been able to educate themselves,” Steve said. “We thought we’d be the foundation of our family.”

The siblings attended a Toronto high school and applied to university with the rest of their graduating class. Steve said he had no idea he had broken the law by attending university.

“We had no idea that was the case. We applied through our high school and were accepted.”

Steve said they chose to come to Canada because they thought it was the country most likely to accept them as residents. He said they were attracted to the multicultural society and thought Canada might open its doors to them.

The Shermans’ grandparents, who live in Toronto, have been their legal guardians since 2002.

A petition circulated by the Shermans’ friends, urging Immigration Canada to change its decision, gathered over 500 signatures and a Facebook group with the same purpose had over 1,000 members before it was shut down on Feb. 14.

The Shermans’ last glimmer of hope to remain in Canada was extinguished on Feb. 10 when their appeal to reverse Immigration Canada’s decision was rejected.

Drawing a tight ring around North America

By Martin Collacott, For The Calgary Herald  February 24, 2009

Among the issues discussed by Prime Minister Harper and President Obama on Thursday were border security and the effect a tightening of our common border can have on trade for both countries. At their joint press conference, Harper stated unequivocally the Canadian government regarded any threat against the U. S. as a threat against Canada.

While such words will be encouraging to the Americans that we take seriously their concerns about security and the risk of terrorist attacks, in concrete terms what has to be done on our part to satisfy the Americans that they have no need to be unduly concerned about security threats from our side of the border?

Assessing U. S. measures taken to increase border security, it should be recognized that not all hurt legitimate movement of goods and people. Indeed, some enhance border security for both countries. The use of drone surveillance aircraft, for example, makes good sense: Both countries gain from monitoring possible illegal crossings along a border that is both long, and sparsely populated.

We have more reason to be concerned about measures that slow down cross-border traffic through official border crossings. This has already had a significant impact on trade, which, in relative terms, is much more detrimental to the Canadian economy than to that of the U. S.

While governments are doing what they can to devise procedures to speed up traffic while maintaining security standards (for example, B. C.'s development of a smart driver's licence the Americans may accept in lieu of a passport), the most comprehensive solution would be to establish a continental security perimeter. Harmonized arrangements to screen people and goods entering either country would reduce the need for stringent security measures along our common border.

The problem with implementing such a system is both Canada and the U. S. would have to compromise to reach agreement on common standards and procedures -- something that raises the hackles of those on both sides who fear this would involve an unacceptable loss of sovereignty.

Some Canadians, for example, have raised strong concerns over the possibility harmonized policies could result in our having to be less generous when it comes to dealing with refugee claimants. By U. S. standards,(and those of other countries,) we go well beyond the call of duty in accepting refugee claims, and in the opportunities we provide to failed claimants to prolong their stay here almost indefinitely.

The current situation, however, presents an interesting opportunity to review some of our procedures, with the possibility of achieving greater harmonization of policies and, hopefully, some easing up on the border. There is little doubt Barack Obama enjoys immense popularity in Canada -- including among those most likely to be supporters of generous immigration and refugee policies. The present juncture is, therefore, probably as good a time as any to determine what the possibilities are of finding sufficient common ground in these areas to create a common security perimeter.

Not that we should underestimate the challenges. The Americans are worried not only about our immigration and refugee systems but also some of our laws bearing on security issues. The Supreme Court's 1985 decision under Section 7 of the Charter that has rendered the refugee determination system largely dysfunctional, would almost certainly have to be revisited as well as Canadian privacy laws standing in the way of speeded up cross-border traffic.

Harper made some very positive and encouraging statements to the American president about Canadian concern for the security of the United States. Convincing Americans they are no longer at risk from terrorist threats on our side of the border, however, is another matter. If we want to keep traffic across the border moving as freely as possible, the best solution would be to have a common security perimeter.

Martin Collacott is a Senior Fellow with the Fraser Institute in Vancouver and a former Canadian ambassador in Asia and the Middle East.

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald