Tories’ Human Smuggling Bill Violates Charter, Says Ignatieff

The Liberal leader said he will not support a bill aimed at deterring migrant smuggling operations from targeting Canada.

After the MV Sun Sea vessel brought nearly 500 Tamil migrants to B.C. this summer, Stephen Harper vowed to overhaul Canada’s laws on human smuggling. In October, the Conservatives tabled Bill C-49, which increased jail sentences for the ringleaders of such operations but also allowed for the detention of migrants for up to one year while their claims are processed. Some experts say that a law authorizing 12-month detention without independent review is a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Ignatieff said Wednesday that the legislation targets “the victims, not the criminals” and that he will vote against it. The NDP and Bloc Québécois also said they would not support the bill, making its passage unlikely.