by arthur Weinreb, associate Editor,
December 17, 2004
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Paul Martin taped a year-end review interview with Global Television. after backtracking somewhat on Canada’s willingness to join the United States in missile defence, the interview turned to the issue of american deserters coming to Canada. after being reminded that Liberal icon, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, had welcomed U.S. draft dodgers and deserters to Canada during the Vietnam War Martin was asked about accepting those U.S. citizens who desert the armed forces because they do not want to serve in Iraq. Martin replied, "In terms of immigration, we are a country of immigrants and we will take immigrants from around the world. I’m not going to discriminate". Notice how the democratic deficit fight said "I" instead of "we".
Later, Martin’s spokesman, Scott Reid, told the network that the prime minister was not referring to any specific case and was not sending a signal to the immigration board.
The specific case that Paul Martin was not referring to was the case of Jeremy Hinzman. The 26-year-old had appeared for three days of hearings before the Immigration and Refugee Board the previous week. Hinzman deserted the 82nd airborne after he learned that he was about to be shipped to Iraq. He claimed refugee status on the grounds that he was being forced to participate in an illegal war and if he had gone to Iraq, he would have been forced to commit war crimes.
To put Paul Martin in the best possible light, the guy simply cannot think quickly enough when it comes to answering questions that he doesn’t expect. This would explain his poor attendance in the House and when he is present, he very rarely answers questions put to him, leaving the answers to be given by the deputy prime minister or various ministers in his cabinet. Even accounting for this, his comments on the issue of american deserters in Canada are disturbing.
according to the PM, we welcome deserters because he doesn’t discriminate and he sees nothing particularly wrong with that; an immigrant is an immigrant is an immigrant. Martin’s answer shows that he has a lack of understanding of Canada’s immigration system. If Paul Martin ever did a "Trudeau" and took a walk in the snow he might easily conclude that he is simply not bright enough to lead this country. The immigration system does indeed discriminate. at least until recently, it was much easier for a Romanian stripper to come to Canada than say, a Pakistani medical doctor. and many Canadians feel that our immigration system should at least discriminate against criminals and terrorists but obviously Martin thinks otherwise.
a deserter who flees the United States for Canada faces consequences if he or she returns home. One of the central issues before the refugee board in these matters is whether the claimant has a fear of persecution or prosecution. If they are ultimately found not to be Convention refugees there is little doubt that the will be prosecuted upon returning to the U.S. They have committed offences against the laws of the United States; yet Martin welcomes them with open arms. They will be, for all intents and purposes, criminals. It is impossible to conclude from Martin’s comments regarding U.S. deserters, that not only is he of the view that Canada should not be involved in the war but that the war itself is at least wrong, if not illegal. Martin probably agrees with Kofi annan that the war is illegal — after all Kofi is the one who decides Canada’s foreign policy.
Martin’s spokesman’s statement that Martin was not meant to influence the refugee board is of course proof positive that his comments might influence the board. Since its inception in 1989, the Immigration and Refugee Board has been known as the plum patronage position of all time. The money is good and the prestige approximates those of appointments to a court. Re-appointments to the board are in the discretion of the government and this puts pressure on members who are seeking a re-appointment to please the government of the day in the decisions that they make. Intended or not, Martin sent out the message that he would like to see U.S. deserters be allowed to remain in Canada.
as far as the government is concerned, the door is wide open to those who choose to desert the american armed Forces.