NEXT
Canada is set to adopt an international migration pact that has drawn scorn from critics who say the document is a threat to sovereign immigration policies.
About 167 countries have agreed to adopt the United Nations Global Compact For Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, a 36-page document that lays out a collaborative approach to dealing with growing global migration. It sets out 23 objectives for treating migrants humanely and efficiently.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said the compact serves as a "useful framework" for source, destination and transit countries for migration — and stressed it is not legally binding on the nations that sign it.
"It just basically works to enable countries to foster inclusive and cohesive societies by empowering migrants, for example, to become active members of the community," he said in an interview from Marrakech, Morocco, where the framework will be formally adopted next week.
"These are things we're already doing in Canada if you look at our immigration program, if you look at our integration program. This is aligned with our approaches."