EDITORIAL: Scheer offers reasonable solution to Roxham Road
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You wouldn’t know it from what most media and politicians are saying, but the illegal border crossing phenomenon at Roxham Road continues.
The latest monthly data from the federal government reveals that 1,712 people claimed asylum through entering illegally at the border of Quebec and New York state.
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This year, the number is now at just over 10,000 people. It’s slightly down from its peak in the previous couple of years, but significantly higher than the norm.
It used to be that few people entered Canada this way, so much so that the feds didn’t need to release monthly stats. Now, it’s become a new normal.
It shouldn’t be that way. Canada is welcoming to economic immigrants as well as refugees. But people must come to Canada because we’ve vetted them and invited them. They don’t come on their own terms, which is what is happening at Roxham Road.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer invited media to the infamous border crossing Wednesday morning to offer a reasonable solution to help reduce these numbers.
He wants to send Immigration and Refugee Board judges to the hotspot to speed up the claims process. This is key. If bogus asylum claimants are turned back promptly, then word will get out that there is little advantage to crossing into Canada. But if they’re allowed to enter the country, put down roots and receive government assistance, it’s only an incentive for more to come.
Scheer also announced the hiring of 250 more Canada Border Services Agency officers. This is something the union has requested for awhile.
This is a good idea, but the public will want to see them enforcing the law, not just acting as bellhops.
Scheer says he wants to renegotiate the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States. Although it is unclear how he’ll accomplish that if the U.S. doesn’t want to do it.
During the press conference, Scheer referenced the threat of MS-13 gang members crossing into Canada.
Last May, Sun columnist Joe Warmington reported how police forces across Canada were put on alert about the potential arrival of MS-13 gang members through human trafficking corridors such as Roxham Road.
Whether it’s for matters of fairness or public safety, we need a solution to this problem.
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