Canada, a few tarnishes around the edges

Hello Everyone!

I've developed a team who is working on the issue of asylum seekers both here in Australia and back home in Canada. I am interested in finding out how this issue is treated back home.

From what I can gather, the horrific terrorist attacks of 9/11 had a great effect on asylum seekers entering Canada.

Before, we were known as a very open country for those who sought refuge within our borders. Our decisions and practices were carried out by our department of citizenship and immigration. This department has the people's best interest at heart.

Since the fateful day, we have hardened up our borders, and more of the decision making process of allowing asylum seekers in, has been placed in the hands of the Canadian Border Services Agency, which is more concerned about security and detention, than what people have gone through who felt their only choice was to come to Canada.

I have found out that the United States has detention centres and is very hard on asylum seekers, which is why many opt to come to Canada, which has a reputation of being more open, and understanding.

Unfortunately, to help out our southern neighbours, we have opted to take on some of their tactics in immigration. As a wise person pointed out, the stronger tactics were not any better than ours, as the tragedy still took place, regardless of their use of detention centres and other means.

So why make things more difficult, and at times traumatic for asylum seekers? It's a good question. We were not equipped with detention centres separate for asylum seekers, and so we have used our prisons for men, women and of all atrocities, for children.

This is what I have found out has been the practices just after 9/11. I have not seen what is presently being done in Canada. I do hope that we have stopped with this backward step and have continued on with a more humane way of treating people who have suffered war, trauma and persecution who are looking to Canada as a place of shelter.