Minister defends controversial reality show, says immigrants take advantage

OTTAWA – Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says illegal immigrants take advantage of Canadian taxpayers— not the other way around.

The federal government is being heavily criticized for its approval of a reality TV show focusing on Canada’s border security after camera crews filmed the arrest of several men in Vancouver last week.

But Toews isn’t backing away from the plan, telling the House of Commons that illegal immigrants cost law-abiding taxpayers millions of dollars each year and thousands of jobs.

Federal access to information documents show that Toews approved a demo reel by Force Four Entertainment and also allowed Canada Border Services Agency to enter into talks for a full series of programs for broadcast in Canada.

NDP public safety critic Randall Garrison says Canadians across the country are shocked about the government’s approval of the idea, adding the raids aren’t some episode of “Cops.”

Joshua Labove (lah-BOVE’), a PhD candidate at Simon Fraser University who specializes in border issues, says the reality show exploits migrants by kicking them out of the country, while at the same time coercing them to sign a waiver to show their face on TV.