TRAFFICKER FACES DEPORTATION

Immigration Minister Lucienne Robillard is considering declaring a Sri
Lankan convicted of drug trafficking a danger to the public, meaning he
could be deported.

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled Veluppillai Pushpanathan should not be
automatically denied the chance to make a refugee claim solely because he
was convicted for drug trafficking and sentenced to eight years in prison.

"We also have other tools in the legislation to prevent an individual to go
to the refugee board. I am thinking about the certificate for danger of the
public," Robillard told the Commons yesterday.

The court ruled Pushpanathan should be granted a hearing before the
Immigration and Refugee Board because of his claim that he would be
tortured and persecuted if sent back to Sri Lanka.

But Robillard said that there are ways to get around the court ruling and
even if Pushpanathan got his IRB hearing, that doesn't mean he'd
necessarily get refugee status.

She said she was surprised by the judgement and needs time to analyze it
before making a final decision.

If the government moves to declare an individual a danger to the public,
the individual still has the right to challenge it before the courts. But
if that person loses, he'll be deported.

Reform MP John Reynolds was outraged by the court ruling, calling it
"bizarre and socially repugnant."

He said a convicted drug dealer should have absolutely no rights in Canada
and should be automatically deported.

"He should go back where he came from," said Reynolds. "I have no concern
what they're going to do with him back in his homeland whatsoever and I
don't think most Canadians do."

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)