OTTAWA - The Supreme Court is set to examine the country's human smuggling laws.
The top court will hear a series of appeals brought by people accused of being smugglers over the last few years.
Among them are the cases of several people charged in connection with the arrival of Sri Lankan migrants off the coast of B.C. in 2009 and 2010.
The Crown charged crew members on both ships with human smuggling offences but appeals were launched on a number of grounds.
They include the argument that the existing laws violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because they are too broad and could result in the prosecution of humanitarian workers.
Another case that will be heard at the same time involves a Cuban man alleged to have run smuggling boats to the U.S. before he made a refugee claim in Canada.