Canadian government says members of ousted Tunisian regime not welcome

[CHIMO]

MONTREAL—Ottawa has issued a stern warning to members of Tunisia’s ousted ruling class, saying they aren’t welcome in Canada.

The statement comes as reports circulate that a brother-in-law of Tunisia’s former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali landed in Montreal aboard a private jet on Friday with his wife and children in tow.

A spokesman from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration wouldn’t confirm or deny the reports on Saturday, saying he was unable to comment on specific cases for privacy reasons.

But Douglas Kellam made it clear Canada would not provide refuge for members of the ousted autocratic government.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/926636--canadian-government-says-members-of-ousted-tunisian-regime-not-welcome?bn=1
Published On Sat Jan 22 2011


Former Tunisian ruler's relatives jet to Canada

Several relatives of former Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali have arrived in Montreal, CBC News has learned.

At least five family members, including Ben Ali's brother-in-law, arrived in Montreal by private jet on Thursday morning, and most were carrying permanent resident cards, government sources told CBC News.

On Sunday, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney confirmed the relatives' arrival.

"There are, I gather, a couple members of his family who are already Canadian permanent residents, which gives them a legal right to be here," Kenney told CBC News. "But anyone who wants to come from Tunisia requires a visa. That would be very difficult for someone to obtain if they can't go back to their country of origin. So we're watching this situation carefully."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2011/01/23/tunisia-ben-ali.html
Sunday, January 23, 2011 | 7:37 PM ET