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In the summer of 1999 haunting images appeared
in the media of ghost ships that had deposited or
attempted to deposit illegal Chinese migrants off the shores
of British Columbia. The subsequent public debate over the arrival
of the migrants was controversial and evoked a wide range of
opinions and emotions among Canadians. It was also a debate that
has particular relevance in terms of the history of this nation.
In July and August, three ships were spotted and subsequently
intercepted by Canadian authorities off Canadian shores. The
weary passengers were taken into custody and transferred to a
Canadian Forces base for processing. On July 23, 123 migrants
came ashore after reportedly spending 39 days at sea. On August
11, 131 migrants were left on shore near the Queen Charlotte
Islands after 58 days at seathe ship was later interceptedand
on August 31, 190 migrants arrived after 72 days at sea. A fourth
ship was reported to have arrived earlier in the summer, off-loaded
its passengers and then sunk during the return voyage. Canadian
officials who boarded the ships reported that conditions on the
vessels were horrible. The upper decks were filthy, and below
decks it was even worse. There was no lighting, buckets were
used for toilets, and drinking water had become contaminated.
Remarkably, the passengers from each ship were in reasonably
good physical health.
The public response to the landings was unequivocal although
mixed. Some Canadians were angered at the arrival of the migrants
and demanded that they be sent back. For them, three ships arriving
unexpectedly in just under six weeks was a provocation not to
be ignored. Expressing overt hostility, some saw these arrivals
as a threat, that of being overrun by illegal arrivals
from poorer nations. Other Canadians called for understanding
and compassion. Still others advocated a detached, reasoned approach,
referring to established refugee procedures. Government officials
appealed for calm. The migrants, meanwhile, were taken into custody
at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, outside Victoria. There they
were fed, given shelter, and questioned by authorities. Of the
123 people on the first ship, for example, 37 were charged with
human smuggling offences and the rest, having claimed refugee
status, became part of a legal process that eventually determines
who is or who is not a genuine refugee and therefore is allowed
to remain in Canada and eventually be eligible for full Canadian
citizenship. Despite the fact that there has been a commonly
held belief that it is easy to enter Canada by claiming refugee
status, the reality is that around 60 per cent of all refugee
claims are rejected in immigration hearings each year.
The arrival of the migrants, primarily from Fujian province in
China, has caused many Canadians to reflect on some of our fundamental
social and historical principles. For a nation built by people
escaping harsh conditions in search of a better life, what is
our obligation to those who wish to come to Canada for the same
reasons? In terms of accepting refugeesimmigrants applying
through existing channels is another matterCanadas
history is not unblemished; we have accepted some and not others.
It is important to note the passengers on these ships were illegal
migrants. The central issue of the story is how we sort out or
balance legal considerations, humanitarian concerns, and the
practical ramifications of illegal migration. The issue of trafficking
in human lives adds another disturbing dimension to the story.
Introduction
Droit dasile
In Search of
a New Life
An International
Concern
The System
A Response From
China
Chinese-Canadians
Discussion, Research,
and Essay Questions
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