Harper tours MV Ocean Lady

22 February 2011 02:00 am Views - 4556

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper toured the MV Ocean Lady, one of two cargo ships that delivered hundreds of Tamil migrants to Canadian shores over the past two years.

The MV Ocean Lady brought 76 Sri Lankan migrants in October 2009; another 492 Sri Lankan migrants arrived aboard the MV Sun Sea last August.
 

The Canadian government is cracking down on human smuggling and sending a message that abuse of Canada's immigration system will not be tolerated, Harper said.
 

"We have an important bill before Parliament at this time to ensure that the government has the necessary tools to resist clandestine and illegal immigration," he told reporters.
 

"We want to encourage the other parties to reconsider their position in terms of opposing this bill."
 

Opposition parties say the Conservative reforms are an attack on refugees. (Source : Canadian Press)