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MONTREAL
As the United States fortifies its southern border, Canada has extended the wel-come mat to Mexi- can immigrants frust-
rated by U.S. restrictions and dreaming of a better life north of the 49th parallel.
About 50,000 Mexican natives are living in Canada permanently. Another 10,000 visit Canada each year to study, and about 200,000 arrive as tourists.
Mexicans can enter Canada legally just by showing a passport, rather than enduring the long, expensive process of obtaining a visa to the United States.
With unemployment at 30-year lows and a manpower shortage looming, Canada has simplified its immigration rules in an effort to attract more skilled workers from around the world.
Immigrants wanted
Last month, Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister Joe Volpe told Parliament that the Liberal government plans to attract 300,000 immigrants a year within the next five years.
Canada is on track to accept 245,000 immigrants this year and plans to welcome 255,000 in 2006. Although Chinese and Indians comprise the largest groups, immigration from Mexico has been rising quickly.
The biggest change has been in the number of Mexican temporary workers.
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