Immigration Minister Defends Visa Rules
Josh Pringle
CFRA
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says new visa rules on Mexican travellers has slowed down the number of refugee claimants.
In an interview during CFRA's Afternoon Edition, Kenney says Canada has received 17 claimants since July 13th, which is fewer than Canada had received in an average day.
Canada announced last month that visitors from Mexico and the Czech Republic would need to obtain travel visas to enter Canada.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Sunday that Canada's refugee system is to blame for the new rules.
Kenney says Canada was on track for 15-thousand refugee claimants from Mexico this year.
The Federal Government will bring forward a plan to speed up processing times.
