Minister says Mexico isn't threatening trade consequences over new visa rules

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Mexico has not warned Canada that the trade relationship between the two countries will suffer as a result of Canada's decision to re-impose visa requirements on Mexican travellers.

«Mexico as a sovereign country is allowed to take the measures it wants to take,» Miller said Thursday in Ottawa. «That said, I have not had any indication that they will be reacting on their end.

»I did not have any indication when I spoke to the Mexican minister of foreign affairs there would be any trade repercussions."

CBC news first reported Wednesday that the visa requirement is being restored for Mexican travellers. The new rules will take effect on 11:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Mexico said it sent two «high-level missions» to Canada in recent weeks to express its concern about the effect the policy change will have on 60 per cent of Mexicans travelling to Canada.

«Mexico regrets this decision and believes that there were other options available before putting this measure in place,» said a statement from the office of Secretary of Foreign Relations Adriana Bárcena. «Mexico reserves the right to act in reciprocity.»

Miller said he knows Mexico is unhappy with the decision but the government had to act after a flood of failed asylum claims from Mexican nationals overwhelmed the refugee system and put a strain on social programs.

The «increase of illegitimate volumes and illegitimate claims that don't even have the prospect of succeeding does put a pressure on the system,» he said. «It puts a pressure on the social supports that these people get simply by being on Canadian soil, so it has ripple effects across the system.»

Canada received more than 25,000 refugee claims from Mexican nationals last year, says