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

[url]http://www.theprovince.com/news/Beijing+slams+Canada+over+work+permit+accused+smuggler/1265347/story.html[/url]

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]

[QUOTE=st7860;8223555]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.[/QUOTE]

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]

[QUOTE=rommelrommel;8223107]If he's stuck here better he works than collects welfare or something.[/QUOTE]yeah, it's better that he smuggles goods into Canada instead.

[resu]

[QUOTE=st7860;8223001]
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.
[/QUOTE]

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

Classy Canada, real classy...

[Frankie3s]

[QUOTE=EmperorOfCanada;8223049]6 billion? Damn I say let this guy stay and let him teach me a couple tricks o_O[/QUOTE]

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]

[QUOTE=st7860;8223555]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.[/QUOTE]

Canada does not have an extradition treaty with any country