My girlfriend was going to come visit and i was happy that a visa wasn't needed, but now it is and im upset, I feel it's very strange to happen so fast. It's like the world is becoming more seperated from this decession. If it's a refugee issue, why don't they just be more strict for those specific issues, now this effects alot of others and it's not fair. Is the Canadian government prejudice and racist now? This country feels more cold these days, and im not talking about the weather. :(

At least when the US government imposed a passport requirement on Canadians, they did give several months notice so that people were able to comply.

It is unveilibable that the goverment can take such a decision!!
Im a tour guide and is been alredy very bad because the flu ...know the govermet give the tour industry a fatal knok out!!
The main reason why the mexican travel to canada is to avoid the degradeting job to get an american visa and now CANADA!!!
WELL I MAY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SOCIAL INSURANCE...WATH A SHAME

Doug Butler;

I understand your frustration.

You said, "There must be a hidden agenda for the simple fact that an entire body of people in government can not be that stupid.

Can they?"

The answer, unfortunately, is, "Yes!"

Those of us who live in Canada have to endure boneheaded decisions like this by our partisan, bullying Prime Minister and his inept Ministers on a daily basis.

i totally agree with your comments an suffer a similar fate, even thou i am a cdn.
i am an cdn figure skating coach working in mexico who was scheduled to bring my skaters including an olympian skater to train in canada for a month this weekend. i have done this for 4 summers now. these clients spend 10s of thousand of dollars when in canada but now they must all cancel ?

when i called the cdn consulate here in monterrey mexico, the government office told me they can not process visas only the embassy in mexico city can do it. furthermore, they told me the consulate was only informed yesterday at 1030 am of this sudden change of cdn policy. no advance warning no advance planning, thus making it impossible for thousand of tourist/visitors coming over the next 2 weeks to canada. in addition they will lose the costs of their airfares to canada with such short notice. i will lose thousand of dollars personally because of this insane 48 hour window.

is this cdn diplomacy at work the way cdns want? i think not. why did the harper government not give 30 day notice of this especially when its embassies in mexico are not prepared and equipped to deal with visa issuing? did they ever consider the fact that 1000's of mexicans have prepaid, non refundable/changable tickets to canada in the summer? you sir are lucky u had flight insurance.

me and my clients do not. the minister jason kenny claimed the short notice was to insure against a f lood of 'refugees' tisis not valid, poor mexicans maybe abusing the su=ystem can not come up with cash for last minute flights in an effort to claim reguee status. only the upper and middle class mexicans who have no desire or need to abuse cdn immigration law would travel in the next 30 days. at most only a dozen of so abusers could raise the funds for a quick last minute effort to reach canada. this ruling effects 'big spenders to be in canada' the most.

is this how we treat a NAFTA partner? i called my MPs office [ Bob Rae] in toronto today to express my outrage. i do not think the liberals would have conducted such an amatuer hour policy directive as the harper government has done. living in mexico i am an embarassed cdn now. i only fear my work permit in mexico will be revoked in retaliation by the mx gov.. mexicans are outraged but this sudden 48 hour change of cdn policy and i side with them. its the saddest day for canada on the international stage i have ever witnessed. i am ashamed and furious.

I am not Hispanic, much less a Mexican. But I have many friends in Mexico, all whom are professional with an upper or middle class status, many who were planning to travel to Canada on business, now they are unable to do so. And by addition Canada looses business.
I was planning to visit Canada later this summer to get out of the Texas heat, I've decided to go elsewhere, perhaps France since my friends can meet me there, as we had originally plan.

You said: "There must be a hidden agenda for the simple fact that an entire body of people in government can not be that stupid. "

Yes they can be that stupid and that uncaring as well. No notice, no nothing. I wonder how many people in Mexico planning a trip to Canada even know this is happening.

When travel restrictions were put in place between Canada and the US there was months, if not years, worth of notice. It just shows the disdain our government has for foreign affairs right now.

I apologize that your trip to our country had to be canceled and I hope you do come and visit us sometime soon but please do us a favour and boycott Canada until they remove this ridiculous visa requirement.

you ask if politicians in Canada are stupid,

I ask you,

12000 deaths in 2 years, the most dangerous country for journalists in the world, rampant kiddnaping and crime, systematic corruption at all levels.

I ask you, is Mexico a failed state? Who is the realy stupit here?

I am a Canadian living in Mexico and recently married to a Mexican. We were planning to visit family and have a Canadian wedding party in the next few weeks. Because of this new visa requirement we have had to cancel those plans...luckily we planned to buy our plane ticket the day after they made this announcement fast announcement.

Now only I will be able to visit Canada until my wife and I can do all the paperwork and examinations that are required for her visa or residency.
Having said this we are the fortunate ones.
The people that are really going to be hurt are those that have businesses in both countries, families that they want to visit, the tourism industry, visiting students, visiting business people on and on and on.

I can't help but think the people responsible for this decision have no idea of what they have done. Anyone who has any international experience, especially in Mexico-Canadian relations must be horrified and embarrassed by the actions of the Canadian government.
As an unofficial ambassador from Canada (because I often represent Canada in my work and social time) I will be very apologetic for what my country has done.
The fact is that this will only hurt the Canadian economy domestically and globally.

There is no question that there is a problem with people taking advantage of the refugee system...however this is an untimely, unintelligent and unthoughtful way of dealing with it.

Doug, I can sympathize with you. The everyday ordinary average Canadian doesn't mind having you here.
It's just we've got this Conservative/Reform/Alliance Party in power right now.
The C.R.A.P. tends to cater to the right wing extremists who typically blame immigrants for all the evils in the country.
The C.R.A.P. takes credit for the economy when the economy is good, but turns around and blames immigrants when the economy turns sour. It's one of the oldest tricks in the poitical book.

These conservatives have to go..they are damaging image of Canada...

Shame Shame...

I've been living in canada for the las 5 years , I'm a permanent resident married to a canadian . My family used to come every year to visit us, they were about to come this weekend. My husband and I paid for the trip without insurance and make reservations in Quebec and got tikets for so many other attractions..... what a waste of money cause now we have to cancel everything not getting our money back. What a sad thing. I believe that they are doing the right thing, I've known so many mexicans that abused the friendly welcome that this country has had given to them .... but " grace period of 48 hrs " cmon.. this is just a joke...

The reason for the visa requirement is obvious. If thousands of Canadians were making (mostly) bogus refugee claims in Mexico I would understand the Mexican government requiring visas for Canadian visitors, they'd have to be morons not to. It's also fairly obvious that the government couldn't advertise the requirement with a great deal of advance notice, or else you would have had a flood of refugee claims before the change.

What's not obvious is why the government couldn't have been quietly preparing for the change before it was announced. Even if we didn't advertise, why not get ready for the imminent wave of visa requests? That just seems like common sense. I apologize to those affected because our government was ill-prepared for this (unfortunately) necessary measure.

It's about time the government does something about these so called refugees that come into Canada knowing very well about our generous social system and taking advantage of it. In fact it's well know all over the world that we open our doors to all kinds of people and very often the undesireable ones. In the north end of Montreal the gangs that are reuining the lives of the residents there are such undesireables that should have stayed in their own countries.

As far as I am confirmed Canada should be looking at imposing the same type of restrictions on other countries.

I have connections to mexico and was dissapointed to hear of this decision and find that it is incredibly mishandled. I have made plans to spend a year in a german town on the czech border, as I was very charmed with the area, and enjoyed hiking the open border parks in this area. As a canadian, I will now have to scrounge for a visa in europe when I already have a german work visa. so much for my much anticipated dream year working by the czech german border!!

I am aware not very many canadian travel to the czech republic, but perhaps canadians would think twice if mexico also imposed visas on canadian tourists??

Of course there is a problem, but this is far from a solution, and only making matters worse!

In a way I understand the measure taken by Ottawa, but I don't think it's the best way to approach the situation. Have they considered reviewing the refugee program itself?

Also, the government should consider a review to all the "immigration experts" providing independent assistance overseas, they can be impressed with the amount of cases when those so-called agents, that are canadians, offer the "Refugee status" service. They tell people what to do, what to answer, how to act once they arrive to Canada (the case I witnessed was for arrival to Montreal). That definitely should be regulated, since by asking mexicans to have a visa it's not going to solve the holeloops in the Canadian Refugee program. These people will find another market.

Now, this is a very agressive policy, I visited Canada 2 weeks ago, before this new measure starts and I was not told at the border in Fort Erie that in a future, all Mexicans will be needing a visa to get there.

My Mexican family, son, daughter in law and three grandchildren have been planning their trip to visit me since March, everything paid for, tickets, extra trips to Toronto and Niagara, yes even expensive concert tickets. They were supposed to arrive Saturday July 18th.

Last Monday my daughter in law made a routine call to the Canadian embassy in Mexico City and was told about the new visa rules for Mexican citizens. She called me inmediately and of course I could not beleive this.

At once I called the Mexican Consulate in Toronto, was lucky to get hold of somebody, and was assured that this was not true, since they had not been informed. I then called the airline, Mexicana, for an extra check up, and I was told the same thing. They knew nothing and had not been informed.

Calling back to Mexico to reassure my family, they said that The Embassy now declared that it was all on their web site 15.00 hrs. Not true. Nothing there.

The news broke that same night with a window of 48 hours to get your papers in order...

Following morning my son calls the Canadian Embassy. He learns that they are REMODELING and have not the capacity to process visas fast.

And you have to travel from wherever you live in Mexico to Mexico City, stand in line in front of the Embassy, where there are police, dogs and street reenforcments, waiting on the street, rain or shine, mostly rain during this time of the year, and when you reach the door give your documents, which later will be processed.

The waiting time has changed from 30 days to 45 days! Also, requirements to achieve a tourist US visa for a Mexican is tough, but THIS is a lot more difficult, next to humiliating questions for a tourist, who wants to visit two weeks and spend his money in Canada.

I now called our MP's office, Tony Clement. The spokesperson did not believe my story, said even after three hours, that she could not verify my story and I was not to believe everything on the internet.... she would find a window.... well, she found whatever we found, the emergency provision, which states clearly that there is no garantee to receive your visa in time. - still we are talking July 18th...

End of story - my son decides he is not a second class citizen and there is no chance that the requirements can be met and a visa secured in time. So he has cancelled their trip. And right now he does not ever want to come to Canada. He wants to go to a country, where he receives respect.

Do I have to add. that we are all devastated.

I don't know if it was the government's or the bureaucrats' decision, but the 48 hour window it gave to the thousands of people with travel plans to Canada to obtain a visa
- imagine if we could obtain any kind of paperwork from the Feds within 48 hours, even in Canada! -
was incredibly shortsighted, possibly unethical, and, at the very least, extremely impolite.

Moreover, why not let Mexicans suffering from police persecution and abuse, kidnappings, mafia and gang crime, lack of an honest and transparent legal and political system, systemic and extreme poverty, racism and discrimination, etc. apply for refugee status? If not based on these criteria, what qualifies a refugee as such?

Maybe Canada should be more involved in helping its NAFTA partner deal with these very serious social problems, such that so many Mexicans would not feel the need to seek asylum in neighbouring countries, instead of punishing the majority of Mexicans who simply want to take a vacation.

Why has the Canadian Government not reformed our own notoriously abused and inefficiently run refugee system anyway?

The fact is this is a major dumb decision without question. And for those who like this decision that's fine to. You have to ask why Canada attracts desperate immigrants? because any potential immigrant who is self sufficient has no interest in Canada.

Over 200,000 mexicans come every year to Canada for vacations, mainly in the summer. and spend around 260 million dollars in our country.

There were conversations between the mexican and canadian government to work together in solving the problem. There were several "legal' offices in Mexico that advertised that they can help mexicans to get their residence in 6 months.

Even with these conversations, the canadian government decided to change its policy from one day to the next. Now, it is way easier for a mexican tourist to travel to the US (it is easier and cheaper to get a visa), or to Europe, where no visas are required.

You don't solve a problem by creating a bigger one, now Canada has tarnished his image with a country that still is their second trade partner, a strong balance in NAFTA negotiations and a key figure in security issues.

The disgust of people losing money by planning a trip to this country is incredible. I really hope that someone sees the bigger picture, and make the decisions to solve this problem.

Instead of dealing with policy issues with refugee claimants in a procedural way, the brain-trust running this show has thrown up the equivalent of a blanket human "spam guard" that it blocking the huge numbers of well-intentioned Mexicans coming to our country as business partners and tourists.

Aren't we the best NAFTA partners that money can buy?

A few details that aren't being reported (from our insider connections...):
-- the Canadian Embassy in Mexico had NO idea this was coming.
-- the "crack team" that was sent down to manage the situation at the Embassy can't speak Spanish. Not joking.
-- the form has 10 pages of instructions alone, and it's not in Spanish. Again, not joking.
-- applicants are required to get a letter from the police to attest that they are not known criminals. The Mexican police services do not issue this type of letter. Guess who else didn't get the memo?

Utter and complete embarassment to all Canadians. Any retaliatory action by the Mexican government isn't enough.

On behalf of what I hope is the vast majority of Canadians, I offer heartfelt apologies to all the Mexican and Czech citizens who have been so unfairly inconvenienced by our pig-headed government.

You deserve to be treated with much more courtesy. I hope that despite our government's shameful behaviour, you will get to experience Canada and Canadian hospitality first hand.

As a Canadian, I am apalled at the lack of respect and plain stupidity displayed by our government in abruptly changing the visa policy for Mexicans and Czechs.

Change of policy, fine; but there is no excuse for being so inconsiderate. New requirements are impossible to meet for people who had already booked their trips.

Thousands of people made travel plans based on the rules provided to them by our government. If the rules are to be changed, simple common sense dictates that you give people enough advance notice and information to meet the new requirements.

As a transitionary measure, couldn't they have simply asked for proof of purchase to show that the ticket was purchased prior to the date of the rule changes to be excluded from the new visa.

A copy of the ticket receipt with such information can easily be printed right at the airport. Such a simple way to avoid the rush of refugee hopefuls that Minister Kenney claims to be so scared about.

More broadly, if there is a problem with the refugee application process, then fix that! Change the requirements, scrutiny and efficiency of those applications! Don't penalize the thousands of well meaning travellers that come to visit our country.

When your breaks start to squeak, you don't slash the tires to slow the car down.

Canada's goodwill and considerable brand value is based on treating people fairly and with respect.

It is a sad day when the incompetence of a handful of bureaucrats leaves so many travellers with a bad taste in their mouths for doing nothing worse than wanting to visit our country, experience our culture, and spend their hard-earned money patronizing Canadian businesses.

Let's hope that this is not a prelude to how we are getting ready to welcome the world for the Vancouver Olympics!

This is embarrassing for Canadians. A setback for our foreign relations. How can we continue to have any confidence in a government that bungles two of Canada's most important foreign relations with such a poor introduction of a tourist visa?

I personally feel ashamed that people are queing up over night in front of the embassy in Polanco in hopes of salvaging their vacations or business plans.

As far as I can tell requiring tourist visas from Mexican visitors doesn't even address the purported problem of abuse of the refugee system. Instead of discouraging many thousands of people visiting Canada why not simply expedite the removal of bogus claimants?

Jason Kenny, you should resign. You are a national embarrassment. Then the government should apologise to everybody it has inconvenienced and drop this stupid visa.

Virginia the Mexican student writes:

Everyone should have the right and a chance to look for better opportunities, and if Mexicans chose this Country to look for a better life is because there is a real NEED for peace and prosperity, but warm weather is always a best option!

So the want to get away from violence and poverty is outweighed by warmer weather?

That proves it's a scam.

NAFTA was a trade decision had zero to do with bogus refugee claims. You may or may not be studying that...

I am glad my government blocked these bogus claims. And remember it's nothing to do with being a legitimate refugee. I don't see why I should help pay for it all with my taxes.

I don't care if Mexico wants a visa from me to go there, I have been there several times, there are many more nicer places to go with warm weather.

Places where they don't murder tourists, or the police can control their population. But if I did go, I would have to pay that fee. Much of Latin America and the South wants Visas from North Americans.

Mexico has serious problems, if everyone wants out, that's a shame - but it should not be my and Canada's problem. But to be a refugee you have to be persecuted. Just because you don't like where you are doesn't cut it.

Sounds like you, Virginia are unhappy in Canada. You know what to do - go for your warm sunshine...at least you won't need a visa to get there.

Im sorry but unfortunately the defense of our national interests are a little more important than some mexican having to cancell her trip, the reason why this law went inti immediate effect is to stop a possible tidal wave of illegals from Czech and Mexico who had to be singled out because of their compulsive and systematic abuse of our generous immigration and asylum laws!!

I don't actually even like the Conservatives but I fell that at least on this one isue they have my SOLID UNWAVERING SUPPORT!!! The point here should be obvious, immigrate LEGALLY!! Otherwise put up with frustration in trying to come here as a tourist...GET IT NOW?????

Some of these posts are pathetic. Fine, you want to vent about the new visa regulations the government has placed on Mexico and Czech Republic. I get that the 48hr grace period is a pain, and I think that should be changed.

However, dont compare this with the passport regulations between Canada and the United States. There were 300,000 Mexicans visiting Canada last year, and there were nearly 17 million Americans visiting Canada. We have a very complex and massive trading relationship that could be damaged on both sides of the border. This is not the case with Mexico.

We are not a tourism based economy like Mexico pretty much is. A total of $300 million in tourist dollars into Canada is hardly noticable. Sorry, this is a real country. The government is protecting the interest and integrity of our immigration system (which is far too relaxed as it is).

And for all you Harper bashers. Get a life, or get a job in politics and do something about it. Until then, you are no better than the average arm chair critic.

I am a canadian citizen 8 months pregnant expecting my first baby and my family bought tickets a few months ago planning to come to visit me and share this special event as my baby will be the first grandchild in the family.

I cannot believe that I am in risk of not having my family with me because of a rule that came into effect without any notice. This is the most important time in my life and I need my family with me.

I understand Canada's concern but it is not fair to ask for a visa when the Canadian embassy is unable to process in time all the applications received. Mexicans are asked to apply at least a month in advance in order to be able to obtain a visa, but the visa requirement came into effect on July 14th.

All mexicans that were planning to come to Canada during July and August are either cancelling or totally losing their flights without refund, others are just hoping to be able to get the visa on time.

Please don't do this to us at least give us the opportunity to comply with the rules in a reasonble and realistic period of time. I also have a friend that is getting married and his family may not be able to get the visa on time for the wedding.

This has been hurting a lot of innocent people who are just planning to come for a visit as they have always done in the past. Is there any way to improove the application process so that Mexican visitors and the Canadian tourism industry is not affected?

Yes, it's too bad that many people are now going to lose money on trips to Canada that have been already paid for. However, since the Cdn govt can't fix the broken refugee system overnight, unfortunately, the 48-hr notice for visa requirements was needed in order to prevent a flood of false claimants.

A lot people making a stink about the visas seem to act as if they have a right to free & unfettered travel anywhere in the world. No one has an automatic right to enter another country, just as no one has a right to enter one's house without a proper invite.

Some people pointed out that there are Mexicans who live in fear of drug gangs, etc. If that's the case, just move to another part of Mexico. We're always told that there are very safe parts of Mexico to visit. If the tourists (who aren't getting murdered) can ferret out these places, surely the Mexicans can find them too. Mexico is a democracy and its citizens need to band together to find solutions to the problems - not just run away to another country.

And regarding the Czech situation with the visas, need people be reminded of those gangs of Romas (supposedly in Canada as refugee claimants) who traveled around the country & robbed liquor stores and other businesses less than 2 years ago???? Some were arrested, charged, & later deported (no appeals for these undesirables!). Some are likely still at large. One of the women who was arrested was pregnant & gave birth in Canada before leaving for Europe. Presumably, her brat is eligible for Cdn citizenship.

Canadian Government should seriously overhaul the immigration system and expecially the refugee claims processing routines to make is very hard for those thousands of false refugee claimants to abuse it.

Very strict measures should be adopted immediately until it is too late. Many European countries have recognized the need to do so and some others (like Switzerland, for instance) have had a system where one has to deserve the right to live there.

People need to deserve the right to become Canadians. It is a great priviledge and only the best of the best or those who really, really need a refuge and ARE PREPARED TO ADOPT OUR CULTURE should be let in.

From reading the posts here, some people are getting the wrong idea that whenever a Mexican goes to a country drugs, violence, filth, and their 50 family members follow automatically.

I have visited many countries and I don't bring any of that stuff with me. When I went to China 6 years ago, the Americans (with a few Canadians) were the ones getting drunk, puking on the stairs, being loud and obnoxious and going after anything with a skirt.

Canada can have whatever visa requirements they want, I will abide by their rules. But please don't generalize Mexicans.