Happens quite a bit. Lots of Chinese immigrants come into Canada this way from some of the poorest parts of China. They tend to fit in because we have lots of Chinese people, particularly in BC, and the original Chinese immigrants that came to Canada to construct the railroad also came from these same provinces. They blend in.

[edit on 2009/10/17 by Aeons]

An interesting note is that multiple news articles state"Pictures released by the RCMP of the ship show people waving to a helicopter overhead. The individuals pictured are wearing civilian clothes."
Have there been incidences where people are wearing military uniforms?

This does happen often. Also, Canada is the perfect jump off point to enter the United States. I live somewhat along the border on the American side and know personally how simple it is to accidentally find yourself in Canada while on a short hike in the woods. So it is not a far jump to think that people come to Canada on their way to the U.S. After all the border between the U.S. and Canada is the longest unprotected border on the planet...When I was younger I accidentally hiked the wrong way on a trail and came out on a dirt road where I flagged down a police officer and to my surprise it was a Canadian Border Agent. I asked him for directions back to the road I entered from and he quickly informed me I needed to go use a formal entrance point to enter the U.S. So I told him I was in the U.S. what are you talking about? To which he responded by escorting me to the border where I was met by a U.S. customs agent and questioned for about 5 min and sent on my way. Doesn't make me feel so safe knowing how easy it is to "slip" into the country...