ARCHIVED - Public Safety Minister Toews and MP Joy Smith discuss the Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act with Winnipeg community leaders
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WINNIPEG, January 24, 2011 — Today, the Honourable Vic Toews, Canada's Public Safety Minister, alongside Joy Smith, Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul, met with members of the Winnipeg community to reiterate the urgency for all Members of Parliament to pass the Harper Government's Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act.
"We see that Canada is a target for increasingly sophisticated global human smuggling networks and further action is needed now. Our message is clear: Canada opens its doors to those who work hard and play by the rules, while cracking down on those who seek to take advantage of our generosity," said Minister Toews.
“The ringleaders of human smuggling operations are ruthless profiteers who cause misery and risk the lives of those they consider little more than human cargo,” said MP Joy Smith. “After their journey, smuggled migrants can then become victims of human trafficking in order to pay off their debt to these criminal operations. This cannot be tolerated.”
The Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act would complement existing efforts by Canadian law enforcement to prevent human smuggling operations before they leave for Canada. This legislation would strengthen Canada's ability to prosecute human smugglers, deter those who would seek to jump the queue, and maintain the integrity and fairness of our immigration system.
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