EDITORIAL: Who keeps track of newcomers?

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Two recent news reports bring into question how much surveillance there is over individuals coming to this country.

Postmedia journalist Bryan Passifiume reported last week on a warning from the Council for a Secure Canada that sloppy Immigration oversight makes Canada a target for infiltration by agents of the Iranian regime. In an online statement, the organization said Canada is ill-equipped to deal with such an influx.

Recent news reports have suggested there could be as many as 700 Iranian agents in this country, with the possibility of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps coming here as a result of instability in that country.

A spokesperson told Passifiume that poor immigration oversight over the past 10 years made it easy for bad actors from Iran’s repressive theocratic regime to enter this country.

“Considering the fact they figured out that Canada has a very lax vetting system, doesn’t take national security particularly seriously — at least in the past decade — I would say, or just over, and there’s a very established Iranian diaspora,” the spokesperson told Passifiume.

At the same time, the Globe and Mail reported that as many as 17,500 criminals have been allowed to come to Canada over the past 11 years. They’ve had their criminal records expunged to allow them into the country.

Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) refused to release a breakdown of the kinds of criminal acts that were forgiven. Once those convictions were swept away, the newcomers were allowed to obtain permanent residence, work or study visas.

“Yesterday, news broke that the Liberals knowingly allowed 17,500 criminals into Canada. Today, confirmation of what we already knew; the Liberals don’t really screen anyone, and it could have dire consequences for Canada and the world,” Conservative critic Michelle Rempel Garner posted on X.

There are some circumstances where it might be reasonable to forgive a criminal act. There are repressive countries that criminalize free speech, for example. But, unless IRCC releases details of what crimes have been swept under the carpet, we just don’t know. That puts all newcomers under a cloud.

Canada once had high standards for those wanting to come here. Even the smallest infraction could prohibit entry for a prospective immigrant. It’s time to restore transparency and the rule of law to our Immigration system.