WILL MONEY LAUNDERERS AND TERRORISTS EXPLOIT CANADA'S CAN+ VISA-FREE ENTRY FROM CARIBBEAN TAX HAVENS?

Canada has followed the lead of a number of jurisdictions in creating its own version of an electronic travel authorization (ETA) which des away with the requirement to secure a visa through normal channels, provided that the visitor held a Canadian visa at anytime in the past ten years.

The country recently expanded the scope regarding nationals of several of the East Caribbean offshore financial centers, which includes several with dodgy histories as destinations for money laundering of narcotics profits. We are concerned that career money launderers will be able to utilize the ETA system to enter Canada, without the usual visa scrutiny, and that this new arrangement will facilitate money laundering into, and through, Canada.  They might also smurfs or employees with Canadian travel history to act on their behalf. Those with no criminal records will be admitted, hence the potential problem.  

The United States will also be far easier for financial criminals intent upon illicit financial activities, for covert entry into the US is not that difficult, given the long open border between the two countries.

Additionally, individuals intent upon committing terrorist acts within America, could enter Canada in this manner, especially by selecting those of their members who had previous tourist or visitor travel of late in to Canada. 

We hope the Government of Canada will reconsider allowing nationals from the East Caribbean states to freely enter, without due examination, solely to facilitate tourism. We fear that there will be consequences regarding money laundering and terrorist operations on North America. 

Read the official Canadian Government announcement:

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the addition of 13 countries to the electronic travel authorization (eTA) program. Travellers from these countries who have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa can now apply for an eTA instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air. Effective today, eligible travellers from these countries can benefit from the program:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Costa Rica
• Morocco
• Panama
• Philippines
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Seychelles
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uruguay
• ( taken verbatim from website)