Canada maintains visa requirement

Although President Felipe Calderon, addressing the Canadian Parliament, asked the no visa be required of Mexicans visiting Canada, the Prime Minister, at a joint press conference, indicated that no changes are contemplated. A year ago, Canada began requiring Mexicans wishing to vacation in Canada to obtain visas. Since then, Mexican travel to Canada has declined by an estimated 40 percent.
The visa requirement was imposed when it was discovered that thousands of Mexicans, once in Canada, had asked for political asylum. They lived on a dole for an average of two years before their requests were denied. Now Mexican tourists contemplating a visit to Canada must prove that they will not request asylum. Most simply decide to vacation elsewhere.

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Jimm Budd
Reporting from Mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers