Romanian lands in Grise Fiord

On Sept. 18, RCMP constables in Grise Fiord arrested a 32-year old Romanian man under Canada’s immigration act, not long after he arrived in the community, cold and hungry, on an 18-foot fishing boat.

The RCMP says the man sailed alone from Greenland, leaving on Sept. 11.

After checking the man’s papers to clear him through customs, the RCMP learned that he had previously been deported from Canada in 2000. The man was apparently was on his way to Toronto, Ont. through Nunavut to avoid contact with the Canadian border officials.

The man, who speaks English fluently, was to have a hearing by telephone on Wednesday afternoon and then leave the next day to Resolute Bay.

Cpl. Ian Johnson of the Grise Fiord RCMP detachment said it’s not uncommon for foreign sailors on small boats to call at Nunavut communities, but they generally carry the proper paperwork necessary to pass immigration scrutiny.