July 26, 1987: Protesters say immigration laws are too lax

Thirty years ago, a group of Edmontonians took to the Alberta legislature to protest against Canada's immigration laws which they felt weren't strict enough.

Roughly a dozen citizens picketed the legislature building on July 26, 1987 and spoke to passersby about how those claiming refugee status can bypass the usual channels of entrance to Canada.

Earlier that month, 174 East Indian refugees, mostly Sikhs, landed on Nova Scotia's south shore, sparking national debate about the nation's immigration laws.

Protesters were pushing to get a new immigration law in place quicklyand were hopefulthe upcoming Bill C-55 would be more stringent about who can claim refugee status.

The group may have been small, but in just two days had managed to collect 500 signatures of other Canadians who worriedthat Canada's immigration laws needed a revamp.

CBC's Rick Boguski went to thelegislature to hear picketers' concerns firsthand.