Ottawa is looking for international support in dealing with cases of human smuggling, following the arrival of a migrant ship containing nearly 500 Tamils last month.

As reports surface that another ship of migrants could be headed toward Canadian shores, the federal government is reportedly drafting legislation that would prevent such ships from arriving in Canada.

However, Canada's Tamil community is concerned that legitimate refugee claimants could be denied entry under the new laws.

They say that since the Tamils lost a long and bloody civil war, they've been facing increasing persecution at home.

"Intercepting a refugee ship in international waters … sends the wrong message to any progressive country in the world," said the Canadian Tamil Congress' David Poopalapillai.

Instead, Poopalapillai said Canada should be calling on the Sri Lankan government to improve its treatment of the Tamil people.

Another boat arrived in October, meaning that 600 such migrants have come to Canada in the past year alone. Ottawa has said that members of the Tamil Tigers, a banned terror organization in Canada, may be among those migrants.

CTV News reported on Sunday night that the latest ship of Tamils may be sailing from Thailand, where both the last two ships originated.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews is said to be consulting with his cabinet colleagues to create a new law that would allow Canadian officials to board vessels before they reach Canadian waters. The U.S. and Australia have similar laws.

Historically, Canada has adhered to the refugee convention, which means that Ottawa must take in those who arrive in Canada seeking asylum.

However, Ottawa says this leaves the country's system open to abuse, as human smugglers charge migrants thousands of dollars for the chance to come to Canada. In the case of the Sun Sea, which arrived in August, Tamils reportedly paid up to $50,000 for the trip.

But by preventing such ships from landing on Canadian soil, migrants would not be able to make full refugee claims, which are covered by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The law would also allow officials to crackdown on the smugglers behind the ships, who are profiting from sending human cargo across the Pacific.

At a meeting in Paris, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney hinted recently at minimum jail sentences for such smugglers.

"I think the government and Parliament need to look at ways that we can send clear messages about how to (eliminate incentives) for those who exploit desperate migrants," Kenney said.

Hearings for the Tamils who arrived in Canada in August will resume on Wednesday.

With a report from CTV British Columbia Bureau Chief Rob Brown