Canada 'to jail human smugglers'

Some 490 Tamil migrants from Sri Lanka arrived in British Columbia in August on the MV Sun Sea The Canadian government will introduce mandatory prison sentences of up to 10 years for those convicted of human smuggling, Canadian media reports say. Smuggling more than 50 individuals into Canada and smuggling people for profit or through a criminal organisation could soon land a person in jail. The new legislation is expected to be announced on Thursday in Vancouver, the Toronto Star newspaper reports. The news comes after some 490 Tamil migrants arrived in Canada in August. Related stories "Our immigration system has come under attack by human smugglers. Human smugglers are clearly targeting Canada and are treating our country like a doormat. The problem is growing and must be stopped," the official was quoted as saying in the Toronto Star. The new legislation, which is to be set out by Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, will reportedly make it easier to charge and convict smugglers. Current Canadian law requires prosecutors to prove that those aiding in human trafficking did not know the people being smuggled did not have the documents required by law to enter Canada. "A failure to act and act strongly, will inevitably lead to a massive collapse in public support for our immigration system," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said at a citizenship ceremony held on Tuesday. Another ship carrying 76 Tamil migrants from Sri Lanka arrived in British Columbia in 2009.This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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