Transit Points: Czech Republic and Roma Travellers

transit points: Since the end of last year, advocates and lawyers say a slew of Roma passengers from Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia all currently visa-exempted countries have reported being stopped from boarding flights to Canada via transit points in England, Poland, Belgium and Germany, according to Toronto Star. The federal government denies that it is to blame. Gina Csanyi-Robah By Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter Sat., May 6, 2017 Ottawa is being accused of preventing Roma travellers from boarding Canada-bound flights and denying them the possibility of seeking asylum here. Ottawa says that while it provides assistance and advice to airlines, it's ultimately up to the airlines themselves to decide who boards flights to Canada, and that all travellers coming to the country are subjected to scrutiny and can be denied entry. Ninety per cent of these travellers have valid plane tickets, the electronic travel authorization eTA issued by Canada and an invitation letter from their friends and relatives in Canada, said Toronto settlement worker Paul St. Airlines found to have carried an improperly documented foreign national to Canada will be fined up to 3,200 per passenger and are liable for additional removal and medical costs, according to the government's manual on the obligations of transporters. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.