The reality TV crew that accompanied Canada Border Services agents on Wednesday’s immigration raids didn’t just get to tag along on a whim; they had explicit approval from public safety minister Vic Toews.
As reported earlier, TV crews for a reality show called Border Security were in tow when CBSA agents raided several construction sites in Vancouver this week. After some undocumented workers were detained, they were asked by producers to sign release forms to appear in the show. Needless to say, this was in extremely poor taste.
When Helesia Luke, a consultant to non-profit organizations, asked the federal government for materials relating to the reality TV show, she received documents within hours showing that not only had Toews personally approved this project, but that the Prime Minister’s Office was also aware of it and evidently did not think it would be weird to film immigrants getting rounded up and deported for national television.
“And to see it go all the way to a ministerial level and be signed off by a minister was just really shocking, actually, because it’s so abusive, it’s so exploitative,” Luke told the CBC.
What might be particularly revealing is the ease and speed with which she obtained the documents. Perhaps even people within Public Safety thought this was an objectionable use of public resources and were just waiting for someone to call asking for the documents — not that being publicly shamed will affect the minister’s work. If he can casually accuse Canadian citizens of supporting child porn and bust international students for working at Wal-Mart and keep his job, rounding up a few for’ners for the teevee isn’t going to do it.
via:CBC News
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