lol Canada has granted a work visa to a famous Chinese smuggler in Canada.

[st7860]

Perhaps, if the guy was a famous fun gong practitioner here as a refugee from China or maybe a political protestor, a work permit might make sense. However, a work permit for a well known smuggler? lol

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Beijing+slams+Canada+over+work+permit+accused+smug gler/1265347/story.html

Beijing has criticized a decision by Canada to grant a work permit to a Chinese citizen charged with smuggling and considered one of the country's most wanted fugitives, the Beijing News reported Saturday.

"Canada's conduct has prompted the strong disapproval of the Chinese people and China is extremely concerned by the Canadian decision," the newspaper quoted foreign ministry spokesman Jiang Yu as saying.

Yu said that although Canada had insisted it was not a refuge for criminals, "the attitude shown by Canada is totally different."

Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Thursday that authorities had decided to give Lai Changxing a visa. Canada's courts have refused to deport him citing concerns over China's treatment of prisoners.

Kenney said Lai "got a work permit from officials out of our Vancouver office," in accordance with court rulings that, in some circumstances, allow foreigners blocked from deportation to be granted a work permit.

Normally, foreign criminal suspects are not granted refugee status by Canada and are deported to the country seeking to prosecute them.

But China's use of the death penalty and reputed abuse of prisoners has made Canadian courts reject Lai's deportation.

Lai and his family fled to Canada in 1999 after China accused him of masterminding a $6-billion smuggling ring.

Canadian officials refused Lai and his ex-wife Tsang Mingna refugee status on grounds they were mere "common criminals," but attempts to extradite them and their three children have been repeatedly blocked by Canadian courts.

The case has long been a diplomatic thorn between Canada and China and a focus of attention for international human-rights groups.

China gave Canada a rare diplomatic assurance it would not execute Lai if he was found guilty, but a Canadian judge ruled in 2007 that risk assessments in the case failed to address the possibility that Lai might be tortured in China.

[EmperorOfCanada]

6 billion? Damn I say let this guy stay and let him teach me a couple tricks o_O

[pierrefleur]

He's an entrepreneur and welcomed to this country.

[rommelrommel]

If he's stuck here better he works than collects welfare or something.

[AmberMoon]

Shakes head, Sorry I do not agree. I do not think allowing criminals passes into any country other then their own. Giving them sanction because they will be prosecuted for their crimes in a country that they committed those crimes in is asking for Pandora box to be opened. Guaranteed they know the outcome if they are caught.

[flexwong]

send this loafer back to china. he committed a criminal offense there, why the hell are we protecting him? waste of tax payer money.

[FazerRider]

Stephen harper doesn't like china that much i think.

[voodoo401]

So what else is new?
We have accepted war criminals, drug dealers, and others here so why should it change?:|

[st7860]

its strange how harper won't extradite this guy because china has the death penalty but at the same time he won't work to bring canadians home that are on death row.

[Hairball]

its strange how harper won't extradite this guy because china has the death penalty but at the same time he won't work to bring canadians home that are on death row.

It's Canadian policy to not send people back if they might face the death penalty, and he was arrested when Jean Chretien was still prime minister.

But speaking of that policy, it has already been reversed at least in some cases.

But that being said, I am not sure what to make of this, so many things here just don't seem to make much sense.

[ronin893]

If he's stuck here better he works than collects welfare or something.yeah, it's better that he smuggles goods into Canada instead.

[resu]

Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Thursday that authorities had decided to give Lai Changxing a visa. Canada's courts have refused to deport him citing concerns over China's treatment of prisoners.


Funny. A lot people die during smuggling attempts every year.

Classy Canada, real classy...

[Frankie3s]

6 billion? Damn I say let this guy stay and let him teach me a couple tricks o_O

I hope this isn't Canada's idea of a stimulus package. Since we can't compete globally with our labor, living costs and taxes being so high that we're now going the criminal route.

[MizTEcK]

it was only a matter of time


refugees like him who abuse our lax immigration laws are sucking up huge amounts of money, and that 6 billion dollars worth is only an estimate, he kept huge amounts of money hidden from selling what was basically public goods (Chinese-government-owned-enterprises)

[rdtx2002]

its strange how harper won't extradite this guy because china has the death penalty but at the same time he won't work to bring canadians home that are on death row.

Canada does not have an extradition treaty with any country

[Jon Lai]

it was only a matter of time


refugees like him who abuse our lax immigration laws are sucking up huge amounts of money, and that 6 billion dollars worth is only an estimate, he kept huge amounts of money hidden from selling what was basically public goods (Chinese-government-owned-enterprises)

Keeping a rich smuggler as refugee is better than keeping a refugee from other countries that are obviously poor and will require welfare.

Heck, I saw on the news last night that a Chinese women and her Canadian born daughter is seeking refuge because she is Christian/Catholic (forgot which) and claims that if she is sent back to China she will be discriminated at because of her religion! She's been denied twice but still appealing!

[googoo]

Heck, I saw on the news last night that a Chinese women and her Canadian born daughter is seeking refuge because she is Christian/Catholic (forgot which) and claims that if she is sent back to China she will be discriminated at because of her religion! She's been denied twice but still appealing!

Funny thing is that this happens all the time ... actually it's NOT funny, what they found was the simplest way to beat the system ... Come here, claim refugee, lose MULTIPLE times, find a way to get pregnant, fight the deportation order based on the hardship that your CANADIAN child will be put through because you got pregnant to stay in Canada and beat the system ........UGH!

Kick the guy out!

Brent

[ibanker]

this would help the trade deficit. hes bringing his money from china and spending it here. its great for our economy

[googoo]

He's broke!

[bigredlemon]

Canada doesn't extradite anyone who face a real risk of capital punishment to any other country. China isn't the only one. They've done it plently of times with the US as well.

[Nikita]

Perhaps, if the guy was a famous fun gong practitioner here as a refugee from China or maybe a political protestor, a work permit might make sense. However, a work permit for a well known smuggler? lol

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Beijing+slams+Canada+over+work+permit+accused+smug gler/1265347/story.html

Beijing has criticized a decision by Canada to grant a work permit to a Chinese citizen charged with smuggling and considered one of the country's most wanted fugitives, the Beijing News reported Saturday.


Perhaps if this guy was actually convicted you're argument might hold some weight. Seeing as he's only been charged and is on Canadian soil, he is still considered innocent until proven guilty. Yeah yeah I know, he'll never be proven guilty or exonerated as long as he's here, but the point remains that he is not a convicted criminal.


Shakes head, Sorry I do not agree. I do not think allowing criminals passes into any country other then their own. Giving them sanction because they will be prosecuted for their crimes in a country that they committed those crimes in is asking for Pandora box to be opened. Guaranteed they know the outcome if they are caught.

That box has been open for most of our history. Oddly enough, the sky hasn't fallen yet...;)


It's Canadian policy to not send people back if they might face the death penalty, and he was arrested when Jean Chretien was still prime minister.

But speaking of that policy, it has already been reversed at least in some cases.

But that being said, I am not sure what to make of this, so many things here just don't seem to make much sense.


Canada doesn't extradite anyone who face a real risk of capital punishment to any other country. China isn't the only one. They've done it plently of times with the US as well.

The Chinese government has given Canada assurances they won't execute him. This isn't about our policy to not extradite where someone may face the death penalty. This is about the concern of him being tortured if returned. Apparently China's not willing to guarantee that won't happen. Which kinda tells us it will.


Canada does not have an extradition treaty with any country

You're joking, right?

[Majinvegeta]

What about all the poor people in China who have to live horrible lives through who knows what kind of torture and poor wages? not only China but other countries as well.

Does Canada wish to give them all a Visa too?

Funny, yea lets help a criminal but when it comes to helping innocent poor people trying to get immigration so they can give their children a better life, Canada wastes their time, money and delays the process.

Screw the crappy politics in this country, its dull boring and a pile of crap.

Yea let's help a Chinese criminal so we can get on China's bad side, good idea.

[perplexed_one]

this case tells me that this guy didn't tithe some of the profits made from illegal enterprise, to the Chinese government. because as we all know the government is rife with corruption and greed.

[kiasu]

This is a joke to me..come on..I would suggest deport this damn guy immediately....he's a criminal!!!

If he is given a legal status, then Stephen Chow (A HK actor/director) should get the legal status too. Not sure if anyone remember Stephen Chow got rejected because Canada think he's related to the mafia in Hong Kong.

[gman]

Canada does not have an extradition treaty with any country

In 2007, the RCMP-Interpol website listed the following countries as having extradition treaties with Canada: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Korea, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United States and Uruguay.

[artsreview]

Perhaps if this guy was actually convicted you're argument might hold some weight. Seeing as he's only been charged and is on Canadian soil, he is still considered innocent until proven guilty. Yeah yeah I know, he'll never be proven guilty or exonerated as long as he's here, but the point remains that he is not a convicted criminal.

As part of the immigration process, all applicants are required to get a police certification for good behaviour -- from each country where they've lived for more than six months after the age of 18.

Why should this guy get a work permit, and perhaps immigration, when the police of his country are clearly not willing to give a certification? Why is he so important that the rules don't apply to him?

[ronin893]

Perhaps if this guy was actually convicted you're argument might hold some weight. Seeing as he's only been charged and is on Canadian soil, he is still considered innocent until proven guilty. Yeah yeah I know, he'll never be proven guilty or exonerated as long as he's here, but the point remains that he is not a convicted criminal.What you say is true but how likely is it that he made his billions legally in China?
He bought his million dollar Vancouver home in cash.

Here is an interesting read.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2009598.ece

[jstaneon]

whats the difference between smuggling and selling pirated dvd's?

Im sure Canada will welcome him with open arms like all the other criminals that come here.

Go Canada :!:

[windforcexx28]

whats the difference between smuggling and selling pirated dvd's?

Im sure canada will welcome him with open arms like all the other criminals that come here.

Go canada :!:

+1

[Nikita]

As part of the immigration process, all applicants are required to get a police certification for good behaviour -- from each country where they've lived for more than six months after the age of 18.

Why should this guy get a work permit, and perhaps immigration, when the police of his country are clearly not willing to give a certification? Why is he so important that the rules don't apply to him?

What rules are you talking about that don't apply to this guy. He isn't any more or less important than anyone else facing torture if deported back to their country of origin. Because that is the reason Canada won't send him back. Our country doesn't support torture anymore than it does the death penalty. They're applying this policy, no matter who it is.

Hell if we turned back everyone that doesn't get a certificate of good behaviour (?), nobody would ever be able to claim refugee status or escape countries that employ torture or the death penalty. No country that wants to use torture or other objectionable measures is ever going to help those trying to escape it.

[Majinvegeta]

What rules are you talking about that don't apply to this guy. He isn't any more or less important than anyone else facing torture if deported back to their country of origin. Because that is the reason Canada won't send him back. Our country doesn't support torture anymore than it does the death penalty. They're applying this policy, no matter who it is.

Hell if we turned back everyone that doesn't get a certificate of good behaviour (?), nobody would ever be able to claim refugee status or escape countries that employ torture or the death penalty. No country that wants to use torture or other objectionable measures is ever going to help those trying to escape it.

I can definitely agree with that. Torture is wrong, whether he is a criminal or not. But that shouldn't mean that we let this guy run a new life in Canada, as he could potentially do the same thing here and then run off somewhere else :/.

I would say that if Canada just doesn't want him tortured, thats fine, jail em here through the laws of Canada. Get the info from China, hey at least he will be jailed.

[Nikita]

I can definitely agree with that. Torture is wrong, whether he is a criminal or not. But that shouldn't mean that we let this guy run a new life in Canada, as he could potentially do the same thing here and then run off somewhere else :/.

I would say that if Canada just doesn't want him tortured, thats fine, jail em here through the laws of Canada. Get the info from China, hey at least he will be jailed.

Sounds good in theory but there's this little problem of jurisdiction..of which Canada has none in this case. And BTW, there's also a little thing called a trial. It happens before sending someone to jail. And only if they're convicted. Remember, this guy hasn't been convicted of anything, so we can't just put him in jail.

[st7860]

http://www.theprovince.com/news/China+twitters+over+blogger+Canada/1392209/story.html

It really doesn't matter whether China's most intriguing new blogger is also the country's Public Enemy No. 1, fugitive businessman Lai Changxing, typing missives from his refuge in Vancouver.


The fact that so many Chinese netizens - or cybercitizens - think it is him, is what makes the blogger interesting as does the positive reaction he is garnering.


Fat-Xing, as he is calling himself, posted his first blog on Feb. 27, a fairly benign introduction telling who he was and where he came from. It seemed to some, however, to be a thinly-veiled biography of Lai and less than a week later word went out on the web: "Lai is blogging, what is he trying to say?"


The reaction was immediate - and surprising.


In the past decade Chinese citizens have heard nothing but official denunciations of Lai - a cheat, a smuggler, a man who deserved to be executed more than once.


Faced with what they consider to be his own words, however, the country's cybercitizens appear to be discounting what they were told and are taking a shine to Lai.


Fat-Xing's blog appears to be operating underneath Beijing's radar. Since it isn't dealing with sensitive political issues or blatantly criticizing the regime, it wouldn't immediately attract the attention of China's omni-present Internet censors. When and if it does, it is difficult to say how they will react. The only thing that is certain, is they won't be happy to see a rehabilitation of Lai's reputation underway.


One Chinese web surfer, who called himself "president of the nubi party," wrote: "I heard your name (Lai) everyday before. Now I finally have a chance to respond to you. Waking up from a dream, I found I have been fooled so much and for so long. So are many of my countrymen. Keep blogging. We stand now with your freedom."


Youlongnaida wrote: "As a Xiamen citizen I am proud of you."


And Xuanzi said: "Hope you have a good life in Canada."


Only one dissenting voice stood out among the positive responses on Fat-Xing's blog.


"How come Lai has so many fans? Chinese people's morality has decayed to extreme," Old Ma wrote.


The Chinese government maintains Lai ran a $10 billion US smuggling ring in Xiamen, one of the coastal cities chosen to be a laboratory when China began to experiment with capitalism. One step ahead of the Chinese police, he fled to Canada in 1999 and has used the legal system to remain there ever since.


In February, Lai was even granted a work permit.


Lai's defenders, however, have long argued that his business practices only reflected the wild west atmosphere prevalent in Xiamen in the heady years after Deng Xiaoping declared: "To be rich is glorious." Fat-Xing seems to want to make the same point in his blog.


"Let me talk about smuggling. My understanding is that smuggling is just to bring the good things from abroad to China. Nobody wants bad things. About a decade or two ago, all that is smuggled are of high quality," Fat-Xing wrote.


He goes on to describe smuggling as "a redistribution of wealth" and notes that in Western countries "smugglers are simply fined."


Real crooks harm people, he said, like the dairy bosses so blatantly did when they sold melamine-laced baby milk formula in China last year.


You could almost see netizens nodding in agreement when they read that post.


One wrote, Lai "didn't kill people or cause fire, nor did he disturb society." The blog poster went on - anonymously - to suggest the Chinese government stop putting so much effort into trying to get Canada ("the paradise for criminals") to extradite Lai and use its energy to amend its own laws. "It is better to mend the fence after the sheep is lost than to lose everything."


In his latest post, Fat-Xing, has begun to interact with his fans, notably one who asks the alleged crook for advice on setting up a business in China.


Online, Fat-Xing made one faint-hearted attempt to discourage speculation that he is Lai.


"Please don't guess who, who, who I am," he wrote. "I am not who, who, who."


But later, he pumps up the intrigue by saying, "(I'm) missing my hometown where I've left for over 10 years." That's just how long Lai has been in Canada.


China's demand for Lai's return and Canada's refusal to produce him until he exhausts his legal appeals, have soured Sino-Canadian relations for almost a decade. Perhaps sensitive to this, Lai has kept a low profile for most of his sojourn in Vancouver, giving only a few interviews over the years and saying very little about his case.


And, he may still be lying low now, but you would be hard pressed to convince Chinese netizens of it.

[ronin893]

Articles like this is why "free press" is such a crock of BS. If Lai Changxing was a government official stealing taxpayers money, the tone of this reporter would be very different. Because it's a rich businessman stealing money from taxpayers and seeking sanctuary in Canada from "Communists", the reporter is almost gleeful at the situation.

"Free press" is about as fair and balanced as a state-owned press.

[GareyBusey]

It's cool, maybe he'll decapitate someone on like a bus or something.

[twotterdhc6]

its strange how harper won't extradite this guy because china has the death penalty but at the same time he won't work to bring canadians home that are on death row.

It's not Stephen Harper. It's the court that "repeatedly blocked attempts to extradite him and his three children".

[teknoluv]

I'm honestly sick of this joker. He is exactly the "Godfaher" (Mafia boss) type you saw in those anti-corruption TV series or movies in China. He was virtually the MOST powerful person in the province of Fujian (population: 35 million). And one of the reasons why he was able to get away is that he got a tip off from the province's deputy police chief!