Melbourne, September 19, 2010 — Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney is set to meet Monday with Australian Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, to discuss effective solutions to combat human smuggling.
“Migrant smuggling and human trafficking are global problems,” said Minister Kenney. “Canada intends to work domestically and internationally to combat the crime and fraud associated with the treacherous journey some immigrants make to Canada. At the same time, we need to ensure that those in need of protection have access to it, and we look forward to working with partners such as Australia.”
As choice immigration destinations, Canada and Australia face similar challenges, including human smuggling, the issue of illegal migrants and failed refugee claimants.
During Minister Kenney’s meetings with Australian officials and other stakeholders on Saturday, he discussed how Australia is dealing with migrant smuggling and the problems it entails. They also discussed how both countries might jointly warn potential migrants of the dangers of relying on smugglers, particularly by sea, as well as the legal and practical consequences of seeking to enter Canada and Australia illegally.
Minister Kenney also visited the Maribyrnong Detention Centre and the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation on Saturday.
Minister Kenney noted that while it may not be possible to completely eliminate human smuggling, there are actions that can reduce its frequency. By looking closely at what other countries have done, ideas can be shared to better protect people from the danger of exploitation by human smugglers.
The Government of Canada is considering options regarding asylum seekers. Our government aims to reduce abuse of the system, while maintaining Canada’s longstanding humanitarian tradition of providing protection to those in need. This will enable us to more effectively assist those fleeing persecution and conflict.
This visit to Australia concludes Minister Kenney’s trip to Europe, Asia and Australia. He will return to Canada on Tuesday, September 21.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Alykhan Velshi
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
