A group of Anglicans from the Union of Myamar – what used to be called Burma – were denied visas by the Canadian government, ostensibly because the government is unconvinced that they will be willing go back at the end of the visit.
They were planning on visiting churches in the Diocese of BC and the diocese has paid some of their expenses; the diocese wants its money back:
The Anglican Church has been forced to incur substantial expenses for these 11 men and women from Myanmar.
Exit visas were issued for all delegates by the Union of Myanmar.
I call on the Government of Canada to explain its actions, apologize to those affected and request compensation for costs incurred.
Olivia Chow is incensed:
At the news conference with Chow was Victoria NDP MP Denise Savoie. She asked, “If the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is unwilling to take the word of Canadian church officials about a group of priests with unbreakable ties to their home parishes, then what hope does an ordinary citizen have in sponsoring their family member to visit Canada?”
And has set up a Facebook group to advertise her outrage.
In case anyone is thinking Canada is unduly parsimonious in its largess towards actual refugees, in 2006 over 800 Myanmar refugees were admitted.
Perhaps the endless political agitation by the Anglican Church of Canada has come home to roost and the visitors were denied entry because the church vouched for them.
The Anglican Church of Canada and it’s leader Fred Hiltz are motivated by one thing only: money.
Hiltz and the church’s political interventions always stink of absolute hypocricy: need proof? Just for a start study the glossy blurp on Hiltz’ Primate’s World Relief Fund then take a peek at the charities return and note the differences; five will get you ten that the actual accounts simply cover Hiltz [and others] futile junkets to Africa to try and swing support for his side of the current schism over the gay-lesbian issue.
Ouch