Canadian immigration in the media

A week after Canada imposed visa restrictions on Czech and Mexican nationals coming into the country, we look at the mix of reactions coming out of the Canadian media.

We begin with comment from the National Post. The paper backed the visa decision, although it did pay respectful homage to the Czech’s contribution to high art and fine pilsners, commisreating that the visa reforms would be Canada’s cultural loss. Their editorial rested on the consensus that,“it is simply better all around if those whose refugee claims are likely to be turned down are never admitted to this country in the first place.”

And while the visa decision caused outrage in both the Czech Republic and Mexico, the Post tried to quell readers’ guilt by urging them not to  feel ashamed about “refusing to play patsy” to the many thousands of illegal immigrants who attempt to “abuse Canada’s good nature.”

The paper’s staunch editorial stance was backed by guest columnist Martin Collacott. He argued that the government had simply “no choice” following a “massive abuse” of the Canadian immigration system.

Collacott said: “Canada has the most generous refugee system in the world. We resettle the largest number of refugees per capita, we have the highest acceptance rates and we have the most generous package of benefits. We have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.”

In Canada’s other national newspaper, the Globe and Mail,a newspaper usally the first to shame any government policy blunder, the paper published comments by eminent immigration expert Catherine Devaugne. She described the Canadian visa decision as “a high-profile Band-Aid that creates perverse incentives and belies Canada’s human-rights commitments.”

Elsewhere, Micael DenStadt of the Toronto Sun boldy proclaimed that Canadians were “quietly furious about our flabby, porous and ridiculously over-bureaucratized refugee system”. He called for reforms to the Canadian immigration system. The Montreal Gazette agreed, calling for any new system to be “stable” and “practical”.

It took the Toronto Star to break perhaps the most heart-wrenching story of the week to come out of the Canada visa controversy. Readers were saddened to read the August wedding of Katie Murphy and Jose Gonzalez was in disarray after the new visa regulations. 20 guests who had planned to make the trip from Mexico would now not be coming.

The Star’s website tugged viewers’ heartstrings further, writing: “All the couple can do now is save the gifts they prepared for their guests.” The gifts were miniature bottles of Mexican spicy sauce with a photo of Murphy and Gonzalez on them.

The spoiling of the bride and groom’s big day is just one instance of how the Canada visa reforms will affect thousands on many levels. The parents of Gonzalez won’t be receiving their spicy sauce bottle as a direct result of the Canada visa rulings, and Canadian immigration will continue to be a hot issue for many others.