Stephen Harper, Canada’s Prime Minister arrives in México today for
his first official visit to the country and to participate in the Summit
of North America, at a time of tension with México.
In 2009 the Harper government unexpectedly imposed a visa requirement on Mexicans traveling to Canada and without consulting with the Mexican authorities.
Canada has repeatedly said the visa requirement was necessary because of the inefficiency of the Canadian legal system that permits the abuse of its laws of refuge.
Canada imposed the visa requirements on both México and the Czechs at the same time. However, in November of last year Canada announced with great fanfare that Czech citizens no longer needed a visa, saying, it “now meets the criteria for visa exemption.”
Ian Brodie, former chief of staff for Harper, said the move is costing Canadian businesses $165 million a year. He added, “We have passed the legislation, fixed our problems now is the time to let the honest traveler travel and create jobs (in Canada).”
But it appears Harper wants to keep the matter quiet. Contrary to what is usual, his office did not offer a briefing on his trip to México, where journalists can ask about details of the visit. His press office did not answer questions about the trip.
The new Ambassador of México to Canada, Francisco Suárez Dávila, has launched what is called “a crusade” to reverse the Canadian decision and told Efe that the two countries are working to resolve the issue.
Suárez Dávila has not offered a prediction as to when the Prime Minister of Canada will cancel the visa requirement for Mexicans. He said, “Sometimes our Canadian friends do not want to discuss this issue, although it is obvious it will keep coming up for discussion even though it is a topic that is both annoying and irritating.”
(CNN Expansión)
In 2009 the Harper government unexpectedly imposed a visa requirement on Mexicans traveling to Canada and without consulting with the Mexican authorities.
Canada has repeatedly said the visa requirement was necessary because of the inefficiency of the Canadian legal system that permits the abuse of its laws of refuge.
Canada imposed the visa requirements on both México and the Czechs at the same time. However, in November of last year Canada announced with great fanfare that Czech citizens no longer needed a visa, saying, it “now meets the criteria for visa exemption.”
Ian Brodie, former chief of staff for Harper, said the move is costing Canadian businesses $165 million a year. He added, “We have passed the legislation, fixed our problems now is the time to let the honest traveler travel and create jobs (in Canada).”
But it appears Harper wants to keep the matter quiet. Contrary to what is usual, his office did not offer a briefing on his trip to México, where journalists can ask about details of the visit. His press office did not answer questions about the trip.
The new Ambassador of México to Canada, Francisco Suárez Dávila, has launched what is called “a crusade” to reverse the Canadian decision and told Efe that the two countries are working to resolve the issue.
Suárez Dávila has not offered a prediction as to when the Prime Minister of Canada will cancel the visa requirement for Mexicans. He said, “Sometimes our Canadian friends do not want to discuss this issue, although it is obvious it will keep coming up for discussion even though it is a topic that is both annoying and irritating.”
(CNN Expansión)
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