Hysteria and Discrimination: Canada's Harsh Response to Refugees and Migrants Who Arrive by Sea‪.‬

FOREWORD The recent arrival of two ships carrying Tamil refugee claimants has caused much debate and discussion in the media, and spurred the Canadian government to table proposed new legislation, Bill C-49, Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act on October 21, 2010. This opinion piece looks briefly at the history of boat arrivals of migrants and refugees in Canada over the last 100 years, with a focus on recent examples. The authors decry the disparate treatment and hysteria accompanying these arrivals and underscore the key international human rights standards that must guide any legislative or policy response to smuggling.