Tamil Migrant Ship M/V Sun Sea will arrive Canada by Aug 14th

[mikey_the_redneck]

Send 'em home! or more will just keep coming...

Feed them and send them back......

[Reggie Dunlop]

I dunno. Lots of uninvited and shady Brits, Frenchmen and Spaniards who had no business being in the Americas started all this.

Our fine countries were built in large part with shady immigrants.

[simonsays]

I personally don't really know how to feel about this whole situation. I have a co-worker who has spent the last 3 years and near $20K in legal and processing fees to become a permanent resident here. I know that refugee claims and immigration claims are different, but it doesn't seem right to watch someone arduously go through the process and then watch 490 people jump their queue.

But they are people, and as such we should at least provide a level of care for them, medicine, food, diesel etc. But I am very undecided about allowing them into the country. At the least, human smugglers the world over are watching this specific case with great interest.

I don't know if there is still a national guilty conscious about the Komagata Maru or the SS St. Louis that factors into this. But as a wealthy nation with liberal attitudes towards human rights, we need a strong stance towards refugee claims like this. I'm not opposed to using these 490 (excluding children) in infrastructure projects for their first year of processing. I'm also not opposed to giving them aid and sending them to their next destination. But I am opposed to opening the flood gates. Because if they are given clear cut refugee status then this is only the first of many ships aiming at our shores.

[bradster57]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I dunno. Lots of uninvited and shady Brits, Frenchmen and Spaniards who had no business being in the Americas started all this.

Our fine countries were built in large part with shady immigrants.

Yeah but its not 1500 anymore. Different times, you can't just stick a flag in the ground and claim the land.

Refugees are people fleeing their country to a neighboring country for fear of prosecution, not paying thousands of dollars to board a ship and jump the queue.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by bradster57

Yeah but its not 1500 anymore.

I just checked my calendar and geez whilikers you're right.

Nothing has really changed. Remittance men. Cast-off street urchins. Religious whackos. That's just for starters.

The great unwashed and downtrodden of whatever nationality you care to name faced the same accusations.

I'm not even going to play the "I personally know recent immigrants from "X" country and they're fine citizens" card. Too easy. The accomplishments of immigrant Canadians historically tell me otherwise.

People clamoring and risking life and limb to become Canadian? DUH! That's what it's all about.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by simonsays

I don't know if there is still a national guilty conscious about the Komagata Maru or the SS St. Louis that factors into this. But as a wealthy nation with liberal attitudes towards human rights, we need a strong stance towards refugee claims like this. I'm not opposed to using these 490 (excluding children) in infrastructure projects for their first year of processing. I'm also not opposed to giving them aid and sending them to their next destination. But I am opposed to opening the flood gates. Because if they are given clear cut refugee status then this is only the first of many ships aiming at out shores.

This "if we allow one, we are going to be overrun" theory seems a little far fetched given that the Sikh ship that landed in Nova Scotia is the last time I remember so many people landing at once. And that was decades ago. If we allowed the Sikh's to be processed and stay as refugee's why haven't we been overrun with ships landing in the last 20 years or so?

This landing by boatloads is very rare given the cost and dangers involved. Most people would take refuge closer to home rather than risk the long trip.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

This "if we allow one, we are going to be overrun" theory seems a little far fetched given that the Sikh ship that landed in Nova Scotia is the last time I remember so many people landing at once. And that was decades ago. If we allowed the Sikh's to be processed and stay as refugee's why haven't we been overrun with ships landing in the last 20 years or so?

This landing by boatloads is very rare given the cost and dangers involved. Most people would take refuge closer to home rather than risk the long trip.

I think the problem is twofold

a) There are reports that there are 2 other boats, full, waiting to see the outcome of the Sun Sea before they depart themselves. Thats another potential 1000 immigrants heading for our shores in the near future.

b) They aren't actual "refugees". If the were seeking refuge from persecution, you think the closest and safest place to go is Canada? They stopped in Thailand IIRC where they would have been fine. But they obviously chose to try and come to Canada on purpose. Let them try their hand at regular immigration like the rest of the world.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

This "if we allow one, we are going to be overrun" theory seems a little far fetched given that the Sikh ship that landed in Nova Scotia is the last time I remember so many people landing at once. And that was decades ago. If we allowed the Sikh's to be processed and stay as refugee's why haven't we been overrun with ships landing in the last 20 years or so?

This landing by boatloads is very rare given the cost and dangers involved. Most people would take refuge closer to home rather than risk the long trip.

Human smuggling is a whole new ball game now and it's a dangerous thing to condone considering the ties it often has to organized crime.

The people who own this ship got paid around $20 million from the 490 people on board. Of course, a lot of that money is probably "owed"... and how does one pay back a gangster?

If this ship and the people on it are allowed to stay, I would seriously consider getting some people together and purchasing a ship for bringing refugees to Canada (for a fee of course). What an easy way to make money to fund whatever I want.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Ducay

b) They aren't actual "refugees". If the were seeking refuge from persecution, you think the closest and safest place to go is Canada? They stopped in Thailand IIRC where they would have been fine. But they obviously chose to try and come to Canada on purpose. Let them try their hand at regular immigration like the rest of the world.

This is the key point. They are economic migrants, looking for a better life. That's fine, but that's what the immigration system is for - get in line.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Not only is it overly romantic, but at current population growth rates in the 3rd world, it probably isn't possible. There is some serious concern in the scientific community these days that our planet could reach it's carrying capacity by 2050. Right now, there might technically be enough resources to provide for the world if distribution and enegry costs weren't an issue, but probably not well into the future.

My point about 1st world nations giving up some nation autonomy for a serious effort at addressing these issues was based on the idea that some form of mass social concious be developed and a serious effort made at solving their problems. Not simply throwing them scraps while maintaining a gluttunous lifestyle en-masse that is based on ravaging these countries for resources, be it energy or manpower or whatever.

Bill Gates has the right idea.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

This "if we allow one, we are going to be overrun" theory seems a little far fetched given that the Sikh ship that landed in Nova Scotia is the last time I remember so many people landing at once. And that was decades ago.

We got 50,000 boat people from Vietnam in 1980. None of them were invited.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Pinner

We got 50,000 boat people from Vietnam in 1980. None of them were invited.

And with them came the most delicious soups and subs in the world!

[Canuck-Hater]

As long as the Canadian Government can separate the criminals from the legitimate refugees, Im fine with it.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Canuck-Hater

As long as the Canadian Government can separate the criminals from the legitimate refugees, Im fine with it.

The Canadian government can do anything!

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

And with them came the most delicious soups and subs in the world!

And shady characters like Jackie Tran

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Ducay

And shady characters like Jackie Tran

Beef satay soup >>> Jackie Tran

P.S. If the Tamils have something to rival bun & pho, I am prepared to listen to their case...

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Beef satay soup >>> Jackie Tran

P.S. If the Tamils have something to rival bun & pho, I am prepared to listen to their case...

Beef satay soup, extra spicy, extra vegetables. From Bolsa. SO GOOD!!!!

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Beef satay soup, extra spicy, extra vegetables. From Bolsa. SO GOOD!!!!

#1 with a bullet.... too soon?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

And with them came the most delicious soups and subs in the world!

And the west coast heroin trade.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

#1 with a bullet.... too soon?

Nah. That was a while ago.