Ottawa – January 24, 2012 – The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, and the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, made the following statement regarding the removal from Canada of Léon Mugesera, a Rwandan national living in Canada. Mr. Mugesera had been fighting deportation to his homeland to face charges of inciting the murder of Tutsi and moderate Hutu citizens in 1994.
“Our government continues to send a strong message that Canada is not a haven for those who try to enter or live here illegally. The decision to remove someone from Canada is not taken lightly. In this case, as with others, all applicable avenues of appeal and review were available to this individual, in accordance with Canadian law,” said Minister Toews.
As a Minister with a role in protecting the safety and security of Canadians, I am confident that these laws are being applied to those individuals who have no legitimate business residing in this country. Our Government is committed to removing individuals who are inadmissible because they have been complicit in war crimes or crimes against humanity.”
“Canada should not be a dumping ground or a safe haven for the world's evildoers. We are happy that we have finally managed to remove Mr. Mugesera from Canada. We hope that his ilk will never set foot on our soil again. It is unfathomable that it takes nearly two decades to deport an architect of the Rwandan genocide from our country,” said Minister Kenney. “However, we recognize that the world is full of Mugeseras who will continue to try to take advantage of Canada's generosity. That is why we intend to change the law so that it puts the interests of Canadians first, not those of foreign criminals.”
For more information on removals and apprehensions, visit the Canada Border Services Agency website at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.
Information:
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
