Login / RegisterNDP MLAs want TV show filming immigration raids out of Vancouver
A trio of New Democrat MLAs have told the Straight that they don’t want a television show that some have accused of targeting immigrants filming in their neighbourhoods, or anywhere in British Columbia.
“I don’t see any point,” said Mable Elmore, MLA for Vancouver Kensington. “I would rather that it not be shot or shown. I don’t want to see it.”
Similar positions were taken by Jenny Kwan, MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, and Raj Chouhan, Opposition multicultural critic.
On Wednesday (March 13), members of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) conducted raids on at least three construction sites, arresting and detaining people of varying immigration status. Embedded with the officers were camera crews filming a documentary series for National Geographic Channel.
According to a National Geographic website, the network is working with CBSA to produce a documentary program called BORDER SECURITY: Canada’s Front Line.
Critics argue that the program objectifies immigrants and exploits people’s misfortune. The show’s producers maintain that their cameras follow the daily activities of CBSA officials and portray those events with accuracy.
One of Wednesday’s raids took place within the boundaries of Elmore’s constituency. She said that families and members of the community have been affected, adding “I think there should be respect shown for immigrants and their families and recognition for their contributions.”
Kwan, whose constituency neighbours Elmore’s, also said that she’d rather the show not be shot in Vancouver.
“I think it is worthwhile to examine what other jurisdictions are doing and how they are dealing with such situations and to take that into consideration and formulate an approach in British Columbia,” she said.
Kwan expressed concern for potential long-term impacts the television program might have on Vancouver residents.
“When these stories are played out and sensationalized in such a way, does that create community tension?” she asked. “Are we going to create an environment where our social harmony is put in jeopardy?”
On March 14, the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) called for the production of such television shows to be banned from the City of Vancouver. According to a news release, 36 North American cities, including Toronto, have passed laws forbidding the filming of “reality television shows that harass residents or workers based on citizenship status”.
In order to film a television show or movie affecting public property in Vancouver, a permit must be approved by city hall.
B.C. NDP multicultural critic Raj Chouhan said that the City of Vancouver should “take a stand” against such a show.
“I’m really concerned,” he said. “It makes me wonder why people in authority are not sensitive to immigrants and their families.”
He continued: “It really bothers me. I hope we are not Americanizing our delivery of justice here in Canada. Canada is a country with a tradition and history of compassion and understanding, and also people recognizing the contributions of immigrants in Canada. We are a country of immigrants. And yet it seems like we are somehow forgetting that. I find it bothersome.”
In a March 15 email to the Straight, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson described BORDER SECURITY as “disturbing” and “media exploitation,” but did not call for the filming of such programs to end.
The television show is produced by Force Four Entertainment, a Vancouver-based company. A representative could not be reached for comment.
In a March 14 statement published on Facebook, Force Four states that the March 13 raids “occurred as we were documenting the day-to-day activities of the CBSA's Inland Enforcement team and were in no way planned or staged.” It continues: “We would not sensationalize any situation for this series. Border Security is a documentary, not a reality series."
The message claims that Force Four receives people’s consent to film before a camera is put on them.
“No one is filmed without their advance verbal permission and a written release is obtained only once the person has been properly cautioned by officers,” it states. “CBSA has no role in the obtaining of releases; this is done by the program's directors. Before any story appears in a program, it is vetted by CBSA and Force Four's lawyers to ensure privacy rights are observed.”
Elmore said that the show should draw attention to the realities of temporary foreign workers in Canada, of which there are more than 60,000 in British Columbia and nearly half a million across the country.
“They are often very vulnerable, working in the underground economy,” she said. “Those are my concerns. I think if we are inviting workers to come and do necessary and important work in Canada they should be treated respectfully and have a pathway to immigration.”
Maybe Elmore could make them all legal citicens that way they woul not get botherd.
The law is equal and unbiased in this regard and CBSA is doing the right thing in the way they enforce it. Letting illegal workers in only fuels the already booming underground economy, which, if eliminated, would eradicate the national debt.
Maybe because he likes the underground market,Or because these people are ILLEGAL and shiped home.
I think that being in the early stages of a provincial election has caused some unnecessary input into what are federal issues. Automatically this is rather cheap politics. Whether this could be called a documentary or a reality show, if you do not want to see it, change the channel or turn off the television.
There seems to be some confusion about who is enforcing the law and who is merely filming it. A raid that would have happened anyway out of view of the camera isn't the fault of those filming.
If there is a clear deliniation between officers and filmmakers when presenting waivers to those asked to sign them and there is no official pressure, I maintain that it is acceptable. Those of us who presume we are not on camera, either via street fixtures or cell phones may be longing for a bygone era.
Like all travellers, I have seen the work of Border Security first hand. By and large there is a fairly high standard of professionalism. The standard that the presence of cameras brings seems a bit more polished. The cameras therefore as likely to be in a wayward travellers interest as not.
I have now viewed most of the episodes available. There are not only scenes with those entrants (entrants, not immigrants) who clearly have something to hide but also show when a mistake is made. Sometimes, an entirely cooperative person is detained endlessly on a false suspicion. Those are the most sympathetic persons because it could and does happen to anyone. Human error is always a factor but I generally want border security to err on the side of caution. Therefore, sometimes people get detained and frustrated and there is the "it could have been me" dread!
The fate of most of those entrants is to be turned back to the country of origin, notably at the Peace Arch crossing. Mostly they were American, often merely tourists en route to places like Whistler and careless with their small amounts of street drugs. Occasionally there is a person obviously intending to work illegally.
I am all for "no one is illegal" and also remembering that we are on Coast Salish land. Nonetheless, no matter what politics rule, from Vic Toews to Rosa Luxemburg, this country could not function without borders and restrictions.
NDP, please return to BC issues.
Second, film and tv tax credits are absolutely subsidies. Since you won't explain it, I will. They are called "refundable tax credits", which if you look up in Investopedia or the like are another way of saying tax credits. Production companies that make shows like this claim the tax credits they are eligible for federally and provincially and receive that full amount whether or not they ever pay a penny of taxes - which they ensure they don't. It is a direct payment of money from the governments to qualifying productions.
The BC Liberals are befuddled in a racially charged no-win situation and low and behold, two landmines are planted to trip the NDP up on this same territory. How long will it be before we see attack ads claiming that New Democrats are willing to endorse censorship in order to assist those working here illegally? Adrian Dix should meet with his caucus and remind them that they are also candidates at this stage -- ones that need to stay on message.
What a surprise, the do gooder NDP that loves to break laws themselves want the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS to be able to stay and suck the resources up that they are going to pour out the provincial coffers if they get in power.
The NDP would willing bankrupt this province providing for all these ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS and give no real value to the valid citizens of this country and especially this province because hey we are only the ones paying the taxes into those coffers so why should we get any value from the province, we don't deserve it.
BUT in the NDP's books those that sneak into ths country, work under the table, steal, sell drugs, help with the trafficing of sex workers from 3rd world countries and basic low lifes not willing to work; they are good recipiants of MY HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS!
I say let CBSA do their jobs and ship ALL the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS out of not only this province BUT THE COUNTRY. Maybe the country won't be so badly in debt then!!
Besids do you want Illegal people in your provice on your tax dollar?