Canada Revokes Iran Soccer Chief's Entry

0:00Canada's immigration system just dodged a major bullet with Medi-Tosh, the head of Iran's soccer federation, and a former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. That's a group Canada labels as terrorists since last year. Taj got a temporary resident permit to attend the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, but officials revoked it mid-flight, and he got turned away at Toronto's. Pearson Airport on Tuesday. Here this week, immigration minister Lena Diabbe owned up to the mix-up during a parliamentary grilling. She said she's accountable, even though she wasn't in the decision loop, and stressed Taj had no right to enter by landing time. The department's top bureaucrat admitted it was a bad call, based on incomplete info and vowed tighter controls. Conservatives are ripping into the Liberals, calling the system a dumpster fire that lets risky folks slip through. Folks like Michelle Rampell-Garner say, no high-ranking IRGC members should ever get a permit, especially with fears about regime affiliates already.

1:01Here, Canadians are losing trust, they argue. Now, with the World Cup kicking off next month across Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., officials are scrambling for answers. Deputy minister Ted Gallivan promised this won't repeat, and Prime Minister Mark Carney backed the hurdles that key guard members out. Foreign affairs minister Anita Anon called it an unintentional error. As FIFA's Congress wraps in British Columbia, the focus stays on securing borders for the big tournament games. Officials assure it'll hold firm, keeping the play on the field and threats off Canadian soil. This has been Canada News Today, powered by AI.