Canada says new border accord with China will speed deportations

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks to Montreal businessmen at the 6th China-Canada Economic & Trade Cooperation Forum in Montreal, Canada September 23, 2016. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi


TORONTO An agreement signed between Canada's border agency and China will result in the faster deportation of Chinese citizens deemed inadmissible by Canadian authorities, a Liberal government spokesman said on Sunday.


The deal will allow Chinese officials to travel to Canada to interview Chinese citizens considered inadmissible, with the aim of verifying their identities and documents, said Scott Bardsley, press secretary to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. Bardsley said the verification process could otherwise take a long time and had often delayed deportations.


According to Canada's immigration department, those deemed inadmissible include people with criminal records, serious health or financial issues or who have lied on their visa applications.


The agreement, a one-year pilot program, was part of law enforcement accords signed during Premier Li Keqiang's Canadian visit last week.


The border agency agreement, which will not be in place immediately, is similar to one China has with the European Union, and officials from both countries will revisit the matter in November, said Bardsley.


The Chinese Embassy in Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


Both countries are also talking about an extradition treaty, which China has long wanted so it can press for the return of what it says are corrupt officials who fled to Canada. Human rights advocates are opposed, citing what they say is a flawed Chinese justice system.


Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, elected last year, is trying to improve ties and increase trade with China, the world's second-largest economy, after a decade of rocky relations under his Conservative predecessor.


The countries on Thursday settled a trade dispute and said they would start exploratory talks on a free trade pact.


The countries also signed a memorandum of understanding under which the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ministry of Public Security of China will cooperate to combat a broad range of crimes. Bardsley said the memorandum was a renewal of a similar one signed in 2010 that called for broad cooperation.


(Reporting by Ethan Lou in Toronto; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Next In World News




Erdogan sees 'ulterior motives' in U.S. case against gold trader


ISTANBUL President Tayyip Erdogan believes U.S. federal attorneys had ulterior motives in including references to him and his wife in court papers related to their prosecution of a gold trader, Turkish media on Sunday quoted him as saying.




Spanish regional elections fail to break political deadlock


SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA/BILBAO, Spain Spain's regional elections reinforced the center-right People's Party (PP) on Sunday while dealing a blow to the opposition Socialists but failed to signal a clear path to avoid a third nationwide vote in December.




Houthi official in Yemen offers border truce, amnesty


SANAA A top official in Yemen's armed Houthi movement on Sunday offered to stop attacks on Saudi Arabia and an amnesty for Yemeni fighters opposing the group if the kingdom stopped air strikes and lifted a near blockade on the country.

From Around the Web Promoted by Taboola