I don't know if Walt has any readers in Mexico (Jose? Can you see? ed), but if so, they may have been inconvenienced by the Canadian government's decision, last month, to impose visa restrictions on would-be travellers to Canada. The intent is to stanch the flood of bogus refugee claims by residents of Mexico who can only be "economic refugees".
The new visa requirement was the subject of some discussion between Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian P.M. "Call me Steve" Harper at the "Three Amigos Summit" this weekend. Sr Calderon wanted to know why -- considering our ties of brotherhood and free trade -- Canada would close treat Mexico in this churlish way.
In reply, Mr Harpoon used the oldest and lamest breakup line known to man: "It's not you; it's me!" Yes, he said, the real problem is that the Canadian refugee system is broken, making it "far to easy to make bogus refugee claims so as to get into Canada". I emphasize the PM's exact words.
Last I heard, the refugee "system" (is dis a system? ed.) was the responsibility of the federal government. And who is the head of the federal government? Step forward, Stephen Harper!
While it's true that his government inherited the mess from its Liberal predecessor, the Tories have done nothing to fix it. In fact, they've made matters worse by neglecting to fill the vacancies on the Refugee Appeal Board. Perhaps there aren't enough defeated Tory candidates to go around?
In Walt's house, if we have a machine that's broken, we hire someone to fix it. If they can't fix it, we hire someone else! If the machine is broken beyond repair, we throw it out!!
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