Canada: Cut off Mexican worker pipeline: Critics

by Barry Artiste | June 26, 2008 at 04:23 am | 210 views | add comment | 0 recommendations

Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
You know if Ghost Consultants were given 20 year prison sentences this would stop immediately.

Certainly scammers will always find a way to grab some cash from the poor, desperate to get out of crushing poverty. Canada certainly needs labour for our dwindling workforce, I for one believe Charity begins at home, we should allow North America's US and Mexico preference to any jobs available in Canada before seeking labour other countries. After all we signed a Free Trade Pact with these two countries so it makes sense, they should get preference.

Then there are some who circumvent the law by coming into this country illegally, those who do for the most part are found to have criminal records back home and are certainly not welcome and should be deported immediately regardless if they fear reprisals back home from authourities.

Cut off Mexican worker pipeline: Critics

By TOM GODFREY, SUN MEDIA

The Toronto Sun

Demands are growing for a crackdown on "ghost consultants" who make big bucks by recruiting Mexicans to work here illegally in the booming construction trade.

The Mexicans are coached by the consultants to claim refugee status if arrested in jobsite raids, an NDP MP, immigration workers and lawyers said yesterday. They said the claimants, who are not allowed to work, then get temporary work permits and health benefits for them and their families as their case are heard, which can take up to four years.

"These consultants are giving Canada a bad name abroad," said Tony Letra, of the Undocumented Workers Committee.

SEEK CRACKDOWN

Letra wants Immigration Minister Diane Finley crack down on the consultants, who are not licensed or registered.

The alleged scheme surfaced after the arrival last Saturday of 80 Mexicans at Vancouver airport. Some of them said they paid from $1,500 to $3,000 to "ghost consultants" who arranged for their trip and jobs in Toronto and B.C.

The group was sent back on Monday.

Mexico is the top country for refugee claims with 7,000 last year, followed by Haiti with 3,750, Colombia with 2,630, China with 1,450 and the U.S. with 950.

About 48% of the refugee cases are accepted.