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Canadian Immigration

Canada is a country that is open to immigration: both in terms of the amount of immigrants we accept, as well as the origins and ethnic backgrounds of our immigrants. These trends are illustrated in the Immigration Plan for 2001 and 2002. The Plan calls for an overall increase in the number of immigrants that Canada will except over the next several years. Furthermore, while the Plan does place an emphasis on economic immigrants over families and refugees, absent is any explicit targeting of particular ethnic, national or religious groups (either as preferred or non-preferred immigrants.)

However, while being open to immigration, Canada has taken steps to protect itself from abuses of the immigration system. In June 2001, the House of Commons passed Bill C-11. While not yet proclaimed into law, the Bill will toughen immigration laws and strengthen the government’s security capacities. Under the Bill, persons who are engaged in terrorism, have a criminal record or represent a threat to Canadian security will be inadmissible to this country. If such persons already have resident status, the Bill permits the government to deport them without the right to appeal. In some circumstance, these persons may even be deported to home countries where they face torture. The Bill also allows the government to suspend civil liberties for visitors to Canada. For example, visitors under suspicion can be detained in custody without a warrant for their arrest.

As stated above, Canada has increasingly become an area for terrorist support activities. Individuals who have entered the country as immigrants or visitors often perform these activities. With the bombings in the United States and its subsequent war on terrorism, pressures have come to bear on past trends in Canadian immigration. However, early indicators suggest that, in general, our immigration policies will remain stable.

In his address to the House of Commons on September 17, Prime Minister Chretien assured Canadians that, where necessary, the government would take steps to increase the security of the nation. However, he also stated that “we will not give into the temptation, in a rush to increase security, to undermine the values that we cherish and which have made Canada a beacon of hope, freedom and tolerance to the world.” Referring directly to Canadian immigration, the Prime Minister asserted that “we will allow no one to force us to sacrifice our values or traditions under the pressure of urgent circumstances. We will continue to welcome people from the whole world. We will continue to offer refuge to the persecuted.”

The general stability of Canadian immigration is further suggested by the existence of Bill C-11. With the Bill, it unnecessary to rewrite our immigration laws to keep any possible terrorist or agent out of Canada. This bill provides the Canadian government with ample powers to act against suspected terrorists, criminals and subversives that have entered or attempt to enter the country.

U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci has recently made calls for the United States and Canada to establish a North American perimeter. Under such a scheme, the external borders of the two nations would be jointly managed, and Canadian and American customs and immigration laws would be harmonized. However, Canada’s immigration minister, Elinor Caplan, has rejected the concept of a North American perimeter. While stating that there would be increased cooperation between the two countries, she asserted that it was unlikely to lead to identical immigration laws.

However, this is not to say that it will be business as usual. While the immigration laws may not be changed, it is probable that the federal government will be more strict in the application of those laws. Furthermore, the Opposition has already made several calls for tougher laws to control who gets into Canada. If the world situation deteriorates dramatically, the calls for change by both the Opposition and the United States government will become extremely difficult to ignore.

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The Canada-United States Border

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