PM Harper interferes in refugee selection process, nixes Syrian applicants

[mandrill]

A Globe and Mail investigation has revealed that the Prime Minister's Office halted the processing of Syrian refugee applications.

"My colleagues and I were left speechless," Chris Friesen, chair of the Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance, tells As it Happens host Carol Off. "We were left scratching our heads as to why the PMO would be involved."

The report, published today, says that the PMO directed Canadian immigration officials to stop processing government-assisted Syrian refugees until they were approved by the prime minister. This effectively halted the approval of some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugee applications.

"We're already seeing undue delays in processing of government-assisted refugees and privately sponsored refugees. Delays like this can be devastating."

"It is highly unusual … We have such a robust security apparatus in this country. So, why the PMO would suddenly get involved in the selection of government-assisted refugees is highly unusual."

Friesen explains that refugee selection is typically managed by the department of Citizenship and Immigration and the Canadian Border Services Agency. Refugee applicants are screened and referred to Canada by the UNHRC.

"We're already seeing undue delays in processing of government-assisted refugees and privately sponsored refugees. Delays like this can be devastating."

Friesen says more questions need to be answered about this investigation because it's a "life or death situation."

"The question it raises for us is, 'why is the government now questioning the UN system?'" says Friesen.

The investigation also revealed that the federal government hired the Danish Refugee Council to screen applicants.

"I think this is a first in Canadian history… I don't recall a Canadian government actually contracting with a European NGO to undertake work that is normally provided by the UN refugee agency," says Friesen.

A statement from the department of Citizenship and Immigration says that the halt in processing was put in place to screen out possible security threats.

Also, earlier today, Stephen Harper said no political staff were involved in vetting the files. http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens...g-of-syrian-refugees-report-reveals-1.3262836

https://news.vice.com/article/repor...anada-earlier-this-year?utm_source=vicenewsfb

 

[MattRoxx]

From some reports it appears that Harper was looking for and prioritizing Christian refugees.

 

[FAST]

From some reports it appears that Harper was looking for and prioritizing Christian refugees.

Would be smart to balance the influx,...for obvious reasons.

FAST

 

[Garrett]

Would be smart to balance the influx,...for obvious reasons.

It may be due to pure risk, given the slaughter of Christians in the middle east.

 

[jcpro]

Good for him. Immigration is not an issue to be rushed.

 

[trtinajax]

It may be due to pure risk, given the slaughter of Christians in the middle east.

Now Trudeau, Mulcair and the leftist media sh*t on Harper for trying to save people whose lives are still in danger even after having escaped the war in Syria. How long before these people start advocating the slaughter of Christians right here in Canada.

 

[Butler1000]

Um. How can someone call it "interference"? That would imply that the Prime Minister of Canada shouldn't be setting foreign policy.

How stupid it that really. It's part of his job. And what he chose to do was modify guidelines in light of the crisis. If you don't agree with it fine. But it's stupid to imply the PM doesn't have the right and obligation to make those decisions.

Considering the large issues now beginning to arise in Germany I'd say it was a good choice.

 

[SkyRider]

On the other hand, I heard part of Harper's speech to the Chinese community in Vancouver yesterday and he explicitly said he wants more Chinese immigrants. Doesn't sound like a racist to me.

 

[ogibowt]

On the other hand, I heard part of Harper's speech to the Chinese community in Vancouver yesterday and he explicitly said he wants more Chinese immigrants. Doesn't sound like a racist to me.

racism no..pandering, yes

 

[SkyRider]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Canada

The Muslim population has roughly doubled since Harper became PM. We spend so much time debating Muslim immigration that we forget Canada also gets immigrants from many other countries/ethnicities/ religions such as China, Philippines, India, Russia, Portugal, etc.

 

[SkyRider]

We never talk about Korean immigrants (other than in the sex trade, but then we never talk about Muslims in the sex trade). The Koreans have cornered the 24/7 convenience store industry. Surely that is worthy of debate on this board.

(Did I tell you guys about the time I found a computer on the curb outside a Korean travel agency? I went inside to ask if it is ok to take the computer. All the young Korean ladies said "no speak English". I got the computer home and everything was in Korean.)

 

[fuji]

Germany is over-populated , Canada which is the second largest country in the world has more room to welcome people

Germany has a massive problem with an aging population, even worse than Canada's. The irony is that the most racist places, like Hungary and Serbia, that have been flipping out over the prospect of taking even a single refugee, are the places with the worst population problems.

Germany is going to win big, getting the most of these refugees.

 

[SkyRider]

There was a flurry of threads about Tamils on this board a few years ago but nothing since. We need to broaden our horizons beyond just Muslims.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Canadian

 

[mandrill]

OK, guys, here's the whole point. Refugee selection is legally supposed to be left to EXPERTS - people accredited by humanitarian organizations because of their understanding and knowledge of local conditions in refugee-producing countries. Those people exercise a decision-making function in sometimes life and death situations based on their superior knowledge. Harper over-rides these independent experts and then cherry-picks the refugee candidates that will enable him to sit well politically.

Now, if Harper started to interfere in judge's decisions based on what would give him political advantage would anyone raise an eyebrow?! Sure.

What if he intervened in the trial of that Muzzo kid and over-ruled him being sent to jail because Woodbridge was a vital swing riding and Harper wanted to impress the Italian-Canadian population?

 

[Butler1000]

OK, guys, here's the whole point. Refugee selection is legally supposed to be left to EXPERTS - people accredited by humanitarian organizations because of their understanding and knowledge of local conditions in refugee-producing countries. Those people exercise a decision-making function in sometimes life and death situations based on their superior knowledge. Harper over-rides these independent experts and then cherry-picks the refugee candidates that will enable him to sit well politically.

Now, if Harper started to interfere in judge's decisions based on what would give him political advantage would anyone raise an eyebrow?! Sure.

What if he intervened in the trial of that Muzzo kid and over-ruled him being sent to jail because Woodbridge was a vital swing riding and Harper wanted to impress the Italian-Canadian population?

Oagre, considering the sudden mass migration occuring due to numerous conditions in numerous nations I'm not sure there as anyone who can be an expert at this point.

As for the rules they were set down in 1995 by the Libs in response to the fake claims we were being inundated with. So the rules are not set in stone. They can be changed by the gov't of the day.

Unless you are stating that Justin and Tom don't have the right to loosen them either to take more in.

There is nothing hard and fast in the guidelines.

 

[basketcase]

The government passing new regulations is far different from what Harper has been accused of.

 

[saxon]

There was a flurry of threads about Tamils on this board a few years ago but nothing since. We need to broaden our horizons beyond just Muslims.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Canadian

And many of those Tamils were deported as being terrorists belonging to the Tamil Tigers.

 

[Butler1000]

The government passing new regulations is far different from what Harper has been accused of.

All he did was to slow down the process until things can be better assessed. And yes he can if he chooses to to direct the types of immigrants.

Trudeau did it in the 70's. I'm sure others have as well. The fact is while the refugees may be living in uncomfortable accommodations they are no longer in immediate danger. So whether we take them earlier or later won't affect whether they live or die.

I prefer to vett them properly, which under those 1995 rules can easily take a year. And that's with UN assistance.

I think the UN is a bit overwhelmed right now. As are numerous other sources. And that kind of chaos can breed mistakes. Things do need to settle down a bit. And in the meantime if you do want to see things expedited then honestly taking certain categories first can do that as opposed to slowing down the line with security checks.

 

[basketcase]

All he did was to slow down the process until things can be better assessed. And yes he can if he chooses to to direct the types of immigrants. ....

According to the stories in the news, he wanted to slow down the process only for Muslim claimants.

 

[FAST]

According to the stories in the news, he wanted to slow down the process only for Muslim claimants.

Which,...once again,...is something a government with backbone would.

FAST