Last week another (yes, there was an earlier one last year) boatload of  "refugees" arrived from Sri Lanka on the west coast of Canada.  They were escorted to shore by a flotilla of Canadian vessels to ensure that their entry went smoothly. Once the ship was securely tied up on Canadian shores, authorities began the process of dealing with this latest group of people arriving in such dramatic fashion. Who are these almost 500 people that spent about three months crossing seas and oceans to come to Canada from Sri Lanka? Apparently a large number of men, women and children seeking to escape the misery of their homeland; these according to reports were mostly Tamil refugees. According to one official quoted in the media, this was a case of  human smuggling, meaning that a lot of money exchanged hands to secure passage on a boat that would bring these people safely to our shores. Once here, they could apply for refugee status and circumvent the usual immigration procedures to secure a future for themselves in Canada. The process of identifying them and verifying their claims as legitimate refugees can take months and even years, not to mention the cost of this whole procedure. There are a number of things that should disturb us about this latest incident:

• One is the fact that this is a blatant attempt to circumvent the normal immigration process, basically jumping the queue. If Canada continues to accept queue-jumpers, more and more entrepreneurs will take their money (or make indebted women and children work their passage off as prostitutes). There is also the distinct possibility that the Tamil Tigers are using this refugee-smuggling scam to raise funds to continue their terrorism. FOLLOW THE MONEY. This is a multi-million-dollar trade that MUST BE STOPPED.
• Another is the fact that (according to the government itself), there are probably people on board who are members of the outlawed Tamil Tiger organization, trying to re-establish themselves as a potential government-in-exile, hoping at some point to resume the civil war that ended in their defeat last year. Canada is already home to the largest number of Tamils from Sri Lanka in the world.
• Another thing that should disturb us is the obviously broken refugee system which takes too much time and too many resources to resolve the status and ultimate destination of refugees. Most often it ends up with them being absorbed into Canadian society without the proper procedures having been followed.

So what is to be done?

• The Christian Heritage Party clearly supports the rule of law.  We need to send a clear signal to human smugglers and those who partner with them that we will not tolerate the bringing of human cargo to our shore. A CHP government would arrest the captains of such ships and seize their proceeds and assets to send a message that this is not the way to enter Canada.
• Any "refugees" (at any stage of process or review) discovered to have ties to the Tamil Tigers (or other organizations prohibited in Canada) will be sent back to their country of origin, regardless of consequence.
• Canada needs to determine very quickly whether the claims of  refugee status are legitimate or bogus. If they are not in imminent danger of reprisals and death in the last country they were in before boarding a boat for Canada, they MUST be returned to that country immediately. Lengthy hearings and investigations are wearisome, costly and create false hope for those in question. They also encourage others around the world to attempt immigration under the guise of a refugee claim.
• Make clear to genuine refugees that they leave their political problems behind in their home countries. They should not use the freedom of our society to try to resolve past and future conflicts elsewhere. To do so risks their status in our country and society. Work through international agencies to promote an agreement on what constitutes human smuggling and the penalties attached to that.
• Teach future citizens of Canada that freedom of religion is a value we hold dear but we will not tolerate setting up organizations which seek to support and foment foreign conflicts. Neither do we want them to promote other ideologies harmful to Canada. Their first loyalty should now be to Canada and all the values that it has traditionally stood for.

"Charity begins at home" runs the adage. Misguided compassion for those who recognize Canada as a land of opportunity and freedom must not cloud our judgment or impede our willingness to protect Canada's citizens from lawbreakers and smugglers. We have borders and a responsibility to defend them. Immigrants who follow Canadian protocols are welcome to apply and legitimate refugees deserve our compassion. Those who violate our laws or use deception to gain access must be sent back.