A Thai cargo ship believed to be carrying some 200 Tamil migrants from Sri Lanka is nearing the British Columbia coast.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews confirmed Wednesday night that the MV Sun Sea is already within the exclusive economic zone that extends 320-kilometres from the Canadian coast.
"We've been tracking this very closely. We are aware that this boat is coming into Canadian waters," Toews told CTV News Channel, adding that he could not offer many more details "because of the sensitivity of the operation."
The MV Sun Sea is expected to pass into Canadian territorial waters - defined as the area 22 kilometres from the coast - sometime Thursday.
Once it crosses the territorial boundary, the RCMP and Canadian Border Service Agency officials can board and inspect the boat, its cargo and passengers.
"The first part of the initiative would be to determine what the facts are," Toews explained. That includes identifying any issues of criminal or refugee status.
The immigrants are then expected to be taken to two specially-prepared correctional facilities in Maple Ridge, east of Vancouver.
Mystery ship's three-month cruise
Details surrounding the MV Sun Sea are scarce, as every government agency connected to the ship's arrival is referring questions to the Department of Foreign Affairs which has refused to provide even the most basic information about the vessel or its whereabouts.
Controversy has surrounded the MV Sun Sea since it set sail from Thailand last May. The ship was spotted off the coast of Guatemala in July. Later that month, the United States Coast Guard confirmed the vessel was flying a Thai flag and heading toward B.C.
"Canada now knows that it has become a target for international people smugglers…and in this case, they believe that the trafficking is being done by the Tamil Tigers," Oliver said, adding that Ottawa intends to "send a message that this simply won't be tolerated."
"In particular, the government knows that at least two other ships are waiting to come to Canada if this one gets in and everyone is accepted as a refugee as the last one was."
Ten months ago, the Ocean Lady arrived on the B.C. coast with 76 Sri Lankan migrants aboard.
An Immigration and Refugee Board spokesperson recently confirmed that all 76 people have since been released as their refugee claims are processed.
While some critics have suggested that such ships should be turned back at sea, the founding publisher of Canadian Immigrant magazine says they deserve the benefit of due process.
"Let's not start judging people before they've even landed on our shores for God's sake," Nick Noorani told CTV's Canada AM in an interview from Vancouver on Wednesday morning.
"Canada is known as a compassionate country and I believe compassion also dictates that we follow the due process of law before tagging people as terrorists," he said.
As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Refugees, Canada is legally obligated to weigh the claims of anyone in the country claiming refugee status.
While there have been reports the MV Sun Sea is carrying high-ranking members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Canadian officials have refused to speculate on who may be on the cargo ship.
"We have some idea of who is on board," Toews acknowledged Wednesday. "Without getting into operational details, we are well aware of potential issues that may arise when this boat enters our territorial waters."
"We will not allow Canada to become an easy target for people who prey on people through human smuggling or human trafficking," Toews added.
In 2006, Canada declared the Tigers a terrorist organization, making it illegal to fundraise for the group.
The Tamil Tigers were defeated by the Sri Lankan army in May 2009, after more than two decades of civil war.
With files from The Canadian Press
