The federal government is working with Mexico to eliminate the requirement that Mexicans must obtain a visa to visit Canada, but will only do so if it can be sure it won't be flooded with more bogus refugee claims.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper discussed the visa issue - along with a number of trade and economic matters - on Wednesday during a meeting in Ottawa with incoming Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto, who will be officially sworn in Dec. 1.
The Conservative government in 2009 imposed visas on Mexican tourists and visitors heading to Canada. It argued at the time the visa requirements were necessary after refugee claims from Mexico nearly tripled from 2005 to 2009, making it the top source country for claims.
The government's Bill C-31, which is now law, effectively makes it easier for Canada to deport people from countries that are deemed safe, non-typical producers of refugees, and Mexico is expected to be on the list. The government believes the legislation could eventually help eliminate the need for Mexicans to obtain visas before visiting Canada.
"We have a visa requirement in place because of the massive increase we had in bogus refugee claims coming from Mexico.
"Under previous law, the government's ability to deal with this was extremely limited through any mechanism other than the visa," Harper told reporters following his meeting with the Mexican president-elect.
"We're in the process of changing our systems and the president and I agreed to task our officials with looking at how we can proceed step by step with dealing and resolving this particular issue, which I think would be in the interests of both of our countries," he added.
"We would ultimately like to see visa-free travel with Mexico, but we do have to be certain that we're able to address, and we don't have a reoccurrence of, the problems we have (had) in the past."
In 2010, Canada received 1,202 refugee claims from Mexican citizens, compared to 7,594 claims in 2009 - an 84 per cent reduction in asylum claims received from Mexicans, according to government figures.
In 2011, Canada received 651 claims from Mexican citizens.
Pena Nieto was diplomatic in his response, saying he raised the visa issue with Harper and hopes the two countries can work to eliminate the requirement in the near future.
"This is the result of excessive refugee claims that were perhaps unfounded, citizens of our country who claimed refugee status, which got them access to social security benefits in this country," Pena Nieto told reporters through a translator.
"I do hope that once the new legislation is approved, in the near future we will be able to avoid this requirement that is currently required of tourists and visitors from Mexico to Canada." According to the new federal legislation, only countries with a combined refugee claims rejection/withdrawal/abandonment rate of 75 per cent or higher, or a withdrawal/abandonment rate of 60 per cent or higher will qualify as a safe country.
In 2011, 68 per cent of Mexican refugee claims were rejected and 15 per cent were abandoned or withdrawn, meaning 17 per cent were approved and received refugee status, according to federal numbers.
In 2008, the year before Canada imposed the visa on Mexicans, 60 per cent of Mexican refugee claims were rejected and 30 per cent were abandoned or withdrawn, meaning just 10 per cent were granted refugee status.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, who held a brief meeting Wednesday with the Mexican president-elect, said he's looking to work with a number of countries, including Mexico, that have concerns with Canada's position on visas and refugee claimants.
"I think it's a question of attitude and the Conservatives have a very closed attitude vis-a-vis our partners, and Mexicans are one of our closest partners," Mulcair told reporters prior to his meeting.
Source: http://www.montrealgazette.com/travel/Canada+considers+eliminating+visas+Mexican+visitors/7626950/story.html
