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Desperate times, desperate measures

I recently finished an absorbing book that seemed remarkably timely, entitled The Illegal, which tells the story of a migrant attempting to escape poverty, corruption and the threat of death by fleeing his fictional homeland, Zantoroland, for its ric

I recently finished an absorbing book that seemed remarkably timely, entitled The Illegal, which tells the story of a migrant attempting to escape poverty, corruption and the threat of death by fleeing his fictional homeland, Zantoroland, for its rich and prosperous neighbor, Freedom State.

Author Lawrence Hill conveys the desperation that we can see for ourselves now, as asylum seekers are paying exorbitant fees to taxi drivers, and then walking miles on foot from America to Canada in frigid temperatures, even at the risk of losing fingers and toes to frostbite. It’s hard to understand what would motivate people to take such risks, but Hill paints one scenario amongst the millions playing out right now across the globe, as well as the reaction and anxiety from those who want to see such illegal migration stopped.

I completely understand the fears and doubts people have about a wave of refugees coming to Canada. European countries have been inundated with migrants and seem unable to curtail the flow of desperate people fleeing horrendous circumstances, war, bombing, starvation and death. But the clash of cultures, the rise of terrorist acts and even the despicable mass sexual assaults in Germany during 2015/16 New Year’s celebration – committed by men described as Arab and North African – certainly reinforce how things could similarly go awry here in Canada, and how a backlash could spark our own version of a Donald Trump election or Brexit.

And if we are already seeing rising numbers of asylum seekers in our inhospitable winter season, what will it be like in spring? Some are predicting a deluge, and are saying Canada must either charge those crossing illegally or address Article 31 of the 1952 Refugee Convention, and declare the U.S. can no longer be deemed a “safe country” for refugees, particularly as those from Muslim countries cite a fear of deportation.

There are no simple answers, I fear, and it’s a problem that’s going to become more and more difficult to address, as records show that wars and persecution have driven more people from their country than at any time in history. More than 65 million people displaced by the end of 2015, the first time ever that 60 million threshold has been crossed.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi notes thousands are fleeing war only to die at sea, or finding their way to borders only to find them closed.

“The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is what’s being tested today, and it’s this spirit of unity that badly needs to prevail,” he has said, and I agree, particularly as access to drinking water and resources becomes more and more dire with our increasing population.

Regardless of whether people think illegal refugees coming to Canada should be welcomed, deported or charged, I think there should be some recognition that we were born into our circumstances by luck and the happenstance of fate. We have the extreme good fortune to live in a peaceful, stable democratic country, with access to running water, food and housing. Not one person can or should say, “This is our land,” as the earth owes us nothing, and we owe it everything. So while we eat and breathe, and hear yet another story of a desperate migrant looking for refuge, we would do well to remember, “There but for the grace of God go I.”




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