NEW YORK : MAYOR CALLS FOR AD CAMPAIGN AIMED AT MIGRANTS

Publié à Radio Canada International
Soumis par Enrique Garanto

The mayor of Windsor, ON, Eddie Francis, has called on the Canadian government to undertake a massive advertising campaign in the U.S. warning illegal migrants who are considering crossing into Canada that it might be a bad idea. Mr. Francis says that although the migrants might be allowed across the border and a delay while their refugee claims are processed and decided, the chances of success are slim. Last August, dozens of Mexicans and Haitians began flooding into Windsor, which was obliged by Canadian law to offer shelter and welfare. More than 550 eventually arrived, placing severe strain on Windsor’s social services. Many had been advised wrongly by a refugee centre that they would be offered refugee status. Mr. Francis told an immigration conference at John Jay College that while an advertising campaign to warn away potential illegal migrants would be expensive, it would be far cheaper than to provide social service and health care to growing numbers of migrants.