Following a meeting with Canada’s Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney, Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog stated that no mass return of the Roma is to be expected from Canada. He added that thanks to Canada tightening its immigration policy it is not worth abusing the country’s refugee system for financial gain anymore.

The two ministers discussed what attracts the Roma to Canada and what their reasons are for leaving Hungary. Minister Balog informed his Canadian colleague that there are no political reasons to leave the country adding that stating anyone is under organised persecution in Hungary is a lie.

However, he also informed Minister Kenny about the difficulties affecting not only the Roma, but people in poverty and presented government initiatives aimed at solving these problems.  The Canadian Minister informed his Hungarian counterpart that the tens of thousands of Roma currently in Canada will not be forced to return to Hungary immediately. Canada started a program encouraging and helping them to return, with free flight tickets and in-kind subsidies; however, only 31 Hungarian Roma chose to participate. Minister Balog added that at the meeting there was no mention of reintroducing visa restrictions against Hungary.

(Ministry of Human Resources)