Federal government must uphold its human rights obligations and secure a landfill search
Leah Gazan, the MP for Winnipeg Centre and NDP Critic for Women and Gender Equality, released the following statement:
Media Release: Federal government must uphold its human rights obligations and secure a landfill search
Media Release: Federal government must uphold its human rights obligations and secure a landfill search
July 21st, 2023
“I agree with Marion Buller, who served as chief commissioner for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls - the federal government must do more to ensure that a search of the Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran takes place. There should never be jurisdictional barriers to meeting our human rights obligations, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada must proceed with a humanitarian recovery and use its power to ensure a search occurs.
Families should not have to plead for their deceased loved ones to be treated with dignity. They are tired of hearing excuses about why a search cannot happen, and are desperate for leadership. If the federal government wants to show that they are serious about getting justice for families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two spirit people, then they will not give up in the face of inaction from the province.
Last May, MPs from all parties unanimously recognized the ongoing violence against Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people as a Canada-wide emergency. Three years since the final report of the National Inquiry, only two of the 231 Calls for Justice have been fully implemented. This is unacceptable. It's time for the federal government to treat this crisis with the urgency it deserves, including by ensuring that a search is undertaken without delay.”
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August 7, 2026
New Democrats Renew Calls on Canada to Ban the RSS and Deny Entry to its Chief
OTTAWA —New Democrats are calling on the federal government to deny entry to the head of the fascist paramilitary organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Network (RSS) and are renewing past NDP calls on Canada to ban the RSS entirely.
NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Heather McPherson and NDP Immigration and Public Safety Critic Jenny Kwan today wrote to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Public Safety, and Immigration to urge action in advance of Mohan Bhagwat’s planned visit to Canada at the end of August.
“The RSS is an extremist group that advocates hate and violence towards religious minorities and marginalized in India and also engages in targeted intimidation of those who speak out against the organization in Canada,” said Heather McPherson, NDP Foreign Affairs Critic. “Multiple minority communities fear his presence in Canada could amplify hate and violence towards them and risk the safety of vulnerable individuals.”
In recent weeks, United Nations Human Rights experts have called on Canada to ensure members of the Sikh community are protected from violent threats by Hindutva extremist groups including the RSS.
“Canada must send a clear message that there is no place in this country for individuals who promote or enable hatred, violence, or intimidation against vulnerable communities or who are connected to activities that threaten Canada's security and democratic institutions. Pertinent sections of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act must be applied to protect Canadians and declare the IRSS and its members inadmissible,” said Jenny Kwan, NDP Critic for Public Safety and for Immigration.
New Democrats have long called on Canada to ban the RSS from Canada, place the RSS on the terrorist entities list, and impose sanctions on connected networks. Despite strong evidence of foreign interference and incitement to violence against Canadians, the Liberals have refused to take action on the RSS. Instead, in recent months the Carney government has grown closer to the Modi regime, causing members of several minority groups in Canada to say their safety no longer matters to the Liberal government.
On August 6, over 200 Canadian civil society organizations released a joint letter calling for Mohan Bhagwat to be denied entry to Canada.
