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The government is treading on dangerous ground because polls indicate Canadians don’t want legal immigration to give way to open borders. The irony is the government risks turning a compassionate population against our historically generous policy of welcoming immigrants and refugees, who in turn have strengthened Canada economically and culturally.

So far, the United States, Australia, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Israel and a number of Eastern European countries have refused to sign an agreement they believe would compromise their sovereignty and endanger their traditions and economic well-being. It is also causing political convulsions in Germany, Belgium, Holland and elsewhere. But not in Canada, whose very own Louise Arbour is leading the charge for the UN and who claims the Compact is non-binding.

But that may not be true for Canada. Our Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act section (3) states that “it is to be construed and applied in a manner that…(f) complies with international human rights instruments to which Canada is a signatory.” Since the Compact declares that migrants, including economic migrants, are entitled to universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, there is a serious issue of whether our laws and policies have to conform to its principles. Furthermore, even a non-binding agreement, like the Paris climate accord, can impose irresistible political pressure on signatory states. Finally, it would be naive to assume the Compact will not, over time, impose more intrusive obligations on signatory nations.