Canada, Mexico Agree to Work on Easing Visa Restrictions The Canadian Press
go to original November 29, 2012

Mexico's new president-elect Enrique Nieto and Prime Minster Stephen Harper walk among flags on a red carpet into the Hall of Honour at Parliament Hill in Ottawa Nov. 28, 2012. (Andre Forget/QMI Agency)

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his government is making changes to the immigration system to end a much-maligned visa for Mexican travelers to Canada.

Stephen Harper says eventually removing the visa requirement would be a good thing for both North American countries.

It's the Conservative government's most conciliatory view to the visa that it imposed in 2009 to stop an influx of bogus refugee claimants.

Harper made the comments yesterday after a meeting with Mexico's new president-elect Enrique Pena Nieto, who was on a whirlwind one-day stop in Canada.

Mexico was stung by the visa requirement, viewing it as heavy-handed and unexpected.

But Pena Nieto has acknowledged the Canadian rationale for imposing the visa, breaking with the harder line against it taken by his predecessor.

Meanwhile, Pena Nieto also says he wants to encourage Canadian investment in his country's state-run oil company but makes it clear there's no intention of privatizing it.

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!