When you are thinking Latin America immigrants what normally will come into mind are the crowded detainees in concentration camps at the Southern border of the US. The situation there is dire and it is a humanitarian calamity that is unfolding whole Canada which is known for accepting refugees just observes. Canada has a big role to play in the on-going fiasco as a refugee-friendly country after it reported last year that it resettled more refugees than any other country.
Canada at the center of the immigrant crisis
Canada is at the center of the immigrant crisis and the struggle for migrant justice in the US. The country’s domestic asylum laws and foreign policies work in tandem with the US. Canada is currently just watching and exposing immigrants especially those from Latin America to the retributive American immigration system.
Despite Canada standing as a modest middle power that helps asylum-seekers its global reach in business and investment capital such as mining have a different tale. Around two-thirds of the global mining, firms are from Canada which makes the Canadian mining industry the largest in the globe. The companies receive substantial tax incentives from the government, get easy access to the Toronto Stock exchange and enjoy favorable regulatory environment under Canadian law.
Canadian mining firms operations in Latin America disruptive to communities
Canadian mining firms benefit from a foreign policy framework that enables them to secure complimentary investment conditions abroad. This has helped companies such as Newmont Goldcorp Corp (NYSE: NEM), Teck Resources Ltd. (NYSE: TECK) and Barick Gold Corp (NYSE: GOLD) to grow their business and reach all parts of the world. Their operations have been extensive in Latin America with more than 80 projects. Most of the operations are in countries such as Chile, Peru, and Mexico. This makes Canada’s presence in Latin America extensive while at the same time making it’s capital one of the most aggressive and disruptive forces in the region.
Recently a caravan of immigrants marched north from Honduras one of the countries that Canadian investment by 2000s had exceeded $100 million. Canada supports the current dictatorial regime in Honduras so that they can protect their interests in the region. The current leader of Honduras has implemented laws that favor the mining sector.
The cozy alliance between Canada and Honduras favoring mining companies and repressive activities of the current regime might be the reason most Hondurans are fleeing the country to march north. Many reports indicate that the alliance between Canada and the Porfirio Lobo has intensified environmental degradation as well as political oppression.
Canada not doing enough to grant immigrants safe passage
Canada is at the center of the disruption of communities in Honduras and in Latin America where they are carrying out their mining operation. Yet the country is determined to restrict Latin America immigrants from receiving asylum protections. This has greatly been contributed by the failure of the Canadian legislators to repeal the Safe Third Country Agreement of 2004.
Canada is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees which commits it to accept refugees. Canada can only reject refugees if they can be returned to a “safe” third country. In this case, the third country is the US which has retributive policies on immigration.
