US Secretary of Homeland Security and Canada's Deputy Prime Minister.
An agreement without substance
Niagara Falls, Ontario - Wednessday, July 3, 2002 - by: Joe Hueglin
public relations	An agreement "in principle" that "
	Anyone who comes to North America to claim asylum must
	file their claim with the first country in which they
	arrive."(1)
	was signed with much fanfare in Niagara Falls June 28th. It was a public relations
	exercise without substance.
no real change	From what is known at present when finalized the principle will
	"apply only to those who claim refugee status when
	they arrive at a border point"(2)
	not to anyone coming in as a visitor either across the American border, by plane or
	by boat. Once on Canadian soil the right to claim refugee status, obtain working
	papers and welfare and to disappear should they choose will remain untouched.
Canada good place	The public relations lead up to the signing sparked a rush to border crossings. The draw?
	"Friends told me that Canada is a good country and
	they will give you charity, and you can reside
	there very easily,". (3)
US or Europe	Canada has no borders with refugee producing countries. 60% of claimants come through
	the 'States the other 40% largely through Europe.
country shopping	Canada's policy ought to be that refugees
	"claim asylum at their first opportunity, rather
	than go around the world and shop for a good
	forum." (4)
	This policy would free up millions of dollars now spent on lawyers, appeal boards and
	their attendant bureaucracies.
help those in need	Redirected these savings could, as Deputy Prime Minister John Manley stated,
	"allow Canada to bring in more refugees from United
	Nations camps overseas and stop asylum seekers from
	shopping for country of their choice."(5)
	Joe Hueglin
Reference:
1 -	"Canada-U.S. agree to 'safe third country' refugee pact" By CAMPBELL CLARK, ESTANISLAO OZIEWICZ AND TU THANH HA, Globe and Mail, Saturday, June 29, 2002 – Page A1,
2-	Canada-U.S. agree to 'safe third country' refugee pact
3	Refugees jam border fearing new policy By INGRID PERITZ AND CAMPBELL CLARK, Globe and Mail, Friday,– June 28, 2002 page A 8
4	Smart border' to turn away more refugees, Adrian Humphreys, National Post, Saturday, June 29, 2002
5	Canada-U.S. agree to 'safe third country' refugee pact"
	Officials slam airport security team, By TOM GODFREY, TORONTO SUN , Friday, June 28, 2002
	Border crossings pose security risk, By TOM GODFREY, Sun Media, Monday, July 1, 2002