Canadian Immigration Information Centre

China arrests Lai Changxing after extradition from Canada

The Chinese government arrested Lai Changxing shortly after his arrival in China yesterday. Lai Changxing lived in Canada for the past 12 years. He was extradited from Canada this week. Lai is accused of bribing officials and operating a smuggling ring from his headquarters in the city of Xiamen, China. According to Chinese officials, when the smuggling ring was busted, the government recovered US$6.8 billion of goods at Lai's properties. 14 associates of Lai were given the death penalty in China as a result.

Lai battled extradition for four years from his home in Vancouver. He argued that he could face torture and execution if he was returned to China. 

Chinese participation in immigration investor program growing in Canada

According to this article in the People's Daily Online, billions of yuan is being transferred to Canada every year from China from prospective immigrants applying to move to Canada as permanent residents under the business immigration class. Business immigrants from China are the largest group of applicants seeking permanent residence in Canada. In 2009, Canada admitted more than 25,000 immigrants from China - 2,000 of them were admitted as investors under the business immigration program. 

4 chinese nationals use fake passports to attempt to fly to Canada

The Manila Standard Today is reporting that four Chinese nationals were arrested for attempting to leave Manila using fake U.K. passports. They arrived in Manila from Hong Kong using their real PRC passports. They are being processed for deportation to the People's Republic of China. You can read more here. 

Vancouver's Chinatown

 The Philadelphia Inquirer has an interesting story about the influx of immigration from China and other parts of Asia to Vancouver. Some interesting points from the article:

• 20% of Vancouver-area residents are Chinese;
• almost 60% of Richmond-area residents are Chinese;
• there are so many Chinese students at the University of British Columbia that students refer to it as the University of a Billion Chinese; and
• Chinatown is the second largest Chinese community in North America, behind San Francisco.

You can read more here. 

Vancouver a "favourite cosmopolitan" city among Chinese migrants

 According to a story today in the South China Morning Post, Vancouver is the favourite cosmopolitan city among migrants from China. The story cites Vancouver's mild climate, urban liveability and proximity to Asia as key points of attraction for prospective immigrants from Asia. It also points out that the Port of Vancouver is the busiest in Canada and Vancouver's film industry is the third largest in North American - behind Los Angeles and New York. (Image courtesy of Port Metro Vancouver)

Family of Chinese fugitive leaves Canada

China View news is reporting that the former spouse and daughter of China's most-wanted fugitive, Lai Changxing, have returned to China voluntarily after a decade spent in Canada. 

Lai is accused of having conspired to smuggle $10 billion from The People's Republic of China. He remains in Canada. China's efforts to have him extradited have been denied by Canada because of fears that Lai would be tortured or executed if deported to China.