Humanitarian, Refugees and Foreign Affairs

We live in an interconnected world, and events transpiring worldwide ultimately affects Canadians, whether we are speaking about economic trade, global prices of goods and commodities, knowledge and skills exchange, effects of climate change, disease transmission and control, natural disaster management, and others. Fulfilling our international obligations protects and serves the interests of Canadians.

People fleeing war, persecution or natural disasters face tremendous barriers to obtaining necessary travel documents. For this reason, I have been advocating for visa-free travel for urgent, life-and-death situations such as the war in Ukraine. I have also been advocating for the government to rescind the safe third country agreement because often, refugees cannot get to safety without first going to a third country. It is paramount that Canada has an adequately resourced immigration system that can act with flexibility and expediency in times of crisis without compromising national security standards.

As your Member of Parliament, I will fight to ensure Canada fulfills its humanitarian and environmental obligations as a member of the international community.

Householder Spring 2025: Liberals Gutting Immigration Services and IRCC Staff Puts Lives at Ris

Householder Spring 2025: Debunking Trump’s Fake News

VIDEO: Message to Mark Carney on renewed vision for immigration and economic security

Message to Mark Carney and other party leaders, calling on a renewed vision for immigration and in the face of deepening public concern for Canada's economic security. Now is a critical time to highlight the reciprocal relationship between immigration and a strong economy, and trends in anti-immigrant sentiment, driven by disinformation, must be addressed.

OPEN LETTER to UNHCR: Urgent appeal regarding the safety of asylum seekers in the United States

I am writing to you with deep concern regarding the recent shifts in US asylum policy and their immediate and profound impact on the safety and well-being of asylum seekers. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plays a vital role in upholding international refugee protection standards, and I urge your office to re-assess whether the US is still adequately observing equitable access to asylum and the principles of non-refoulement since President Donald Trump took office.

The policy measures introduced by President Donald Trump's executive actions on his first day back in office made one thing abundantly clear: that the US immigration system is being weaponized.

President Trump effectively shut down the US refugee protection system, leaving hundreds of thousands of people stranded with no clear pathway to asylum. He escalated the use of criminal prosecutions against those crossing irregularly into the United States and declared a national emergency to justify military deployment for immigration enforcement. His administration's 'mass deportation' strategy is designed to not just deter but punish those seeking safety. The measures taken by this administration not only create significant barriers to due process but also increase the likelihood that vulnerable individuals will be returned to situations where they face serious harm.

OPEN LETTER to Immigration Minister: Canada’s continued enforcement of the Safe Third Country Agreement

I am writing you to express my grave concerns regarding Canada’s continued enforcement of the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) with the United States and urge the Canadian government to immediately withdraw from the STCA.

President Donald Trump’s executive actions on his first day back in office made one thing abundantly clear: the US immigration system is being weaponized and arbitrary detention, prolonged incarceration, and systemic violations of human rights are not the exception but the rule.

HANSARD: Statement on settlement services funding cut

HANSARD: Why are Liberals punishing newcomers, settlement services agencies and VCC's wildly successful language training program?

Toronto Star NEWS: Canada launches ad campaign warning newcomers claiming asylum is ‘not easy’

When reached for comment, NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan said the new measures are an abrupt shift from past policy.

“This about face from Prime Minister Trudeau is a shameless and insidious attempt to use newcomers such as migrants, international students, and asylum seekers as political cover,” Kwan said in a statement emailed to the Star.

It’s a dangerous game on Trudeau’s part, said Kwan, in trying to “shift the blame for his failures” to asylum seekers — one she called “a recipe to further hype-up hate, resentment and discrimination toward racialized people.

“Instead of wasting $250,000 on advertising, they should be investing those resources in processing applications,” said Kwan.

immigration.ca NEWS: Marc Miller to propose reforms to Canada’s Immigration and Asylum System

Political opposition has also been vocal. NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan accused the government of scapegoating migrants for systemic issues, such as the housing crisis. Kwan called for a reversal of recent immigration changes, questioning their fairness to temporary residents and international students.

In response, Miller maintained that becoming a Canadian citizen is not a right.

Globe: Lebanese Canadians face agonizing choice of leaving spouses behind in war-torn Beirut

NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan said the temporary immigration measure was “woefully inadequate” and “continues to neglect Lebanese Canadian family members who are still in grave danger and desperate to get to safety.”

“Canadian citizens and their spouses and children in Lebanon are desperate to get to safety and it’s unconscionable that Canadian family members must consider leaving their spouse or children behind,” she said in an e-mailed statement.