Dhaliwal Questions Minister Regarding Comments Made By Immigration Official in Chandigarh, India

(SURREY) Sukh Dhaliwal today sent a letter to Minister Diane Finley to show his grave concern regarding some disturbing comments made by one of her department’s officials during a recent trade delegation to India.Skip Bassford, president of the University College of the Fraser Valley, overheard an officer from the Chandigarh visa office say that Punjab residents file a lot of bogus visa applications. This same official also stated that there exists a high number of criminals and serious issues with human trafficking in Punjab.

“When I hear these comments, I know they speak to this minister’s inaction in dealing with policies under her ministry that have created problems in this office.” said Dhaliwal. “I regularly hear complaints from my constituents of apparently arbitrary refusals for visas from this office. This discrimination stems from Minister Finley’s failure to address the high demands put on the Chandigarh office staff.”

“I would not be surprised to hear that this Conservative government would consider closing the Chandigarh office, given the publicity it has been getting”

Dhaliwal said in his letter, “The previous Liberal government recognized the importance of Canada’s relationship with this region of India, and accordingly inaugurated a Chandigarh consulate in 2003 to improve the flow of people between the two countries by enhancing immigration and visa services.”

Student visas, in particular, are rejected at nearly four times the rate of other offices in India. In the Chandigarh office, the acceptance rate for students is 20 percent, while the overall acceptance rate is 80 percent.

“There is a vital need for the minister to set a positive tone within her department, and for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to show the same type of leadership across the government.”

Dhaliwal also pointed out recent positive statements made by Harper and Finley regarding their support for immigration from India including Finley who stated these immigrants bring a “positive influence on the economic and cultural life of our country”.

“In light of the statements by the visa officer, their praise rings hollow. I find these comments to be part of their recent futile attempt to win favour in the multicultural communities while continuing to practice the ideology of discrimination that their party is best known for”, exclaimed Dhaliwal.

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Media Contact:
Al Payne
604-507-0735