OTTAWA/MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – Canada reinstated some visa requirements for Mexican nationals, Mexico said, while threatening to do the same in return for Canadian visitors.
The move by Canada is in a bid to curb the flow of asylum seekers, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp earlier said, citing a senior official.
Now, Mexicans who wish to enter Canada must apply for an electronic travel authorization by using a current U.S. visa or a Canadian visa that had expired within the past 10 years.
Those who do not have either must apply for a Canadian visa, Mexico’s foreign ministry said.
Last month the premier of Quebec, the second most populous of Canada’s 10 provinces, urged Ottawa to stem the flow of refugees and to compensate the province for costs.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault said the lack of visa requirements for Mexican travelers meant more refugees were arriving by plane and complained the province’s social services were at a breaking point.
The office of Immigration Minister Marc Miller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The federal Liberal government said last month it was weighing a number of measures to prevent Mexican nationals from flying into the country to request asylum.
Canada struck a deal with Washington last year to stem the flow of asylum seekers entering from the United States.
The decision from Canada comes after two Mexican delegations traveled to the country, Mexico’s foreign ministry said. “In the conversations held, (the additional restrictions were imposed) instead of imposing a general visa requirement.”
However, Mexico said it “regretted” the decision and that there were alternative measures that could have been put in place.
“Mexico, of course, reserves the right to act in reciprocity.”
