NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Heather McPherson made the following statement
MEDIA RELEASE: NDP statement on extremism within Israel’s new government
MEDIA RELEASE: NDP statement on extremism within Israel’s new government
“Over the past week, thousands of Israelis have protested in the streets against dangerous ideologies articulated by Israel’s newly elected government, in which far-right extremist Members of the Knesset have been given key cabinet roles including in the ministries of Defense and National (Public) Security.
Potential changes articulated in the coalition agreements are profoundly alarming, leading many Israelis to protest against them. Religious pluralism and democratic institutions like the Attorney General’s office and the Supreme Court are under attack. Israeli health care workers have spoken out against proposed new laws that would discriminate against LGBTQ+ people in hospitals and businesses. Israeli civil society organizations have warned of shrinking space for human rights advocacy. And Jewish communities around the world, including in Canada, are speaking out against these extremist positions.
At a time when all efforts should be focused on peace, human rights, and justice, experts are also warning that some of the commitments made by this new government may lead to an escalation of the conflict and violence between Israel and Palestine which could result in further loss of life of innocent Palestinians and Israelis. The year 2022 was already the deadliest for Palestinians and Israelis in recent memory – yet the dangerous and racist rhetoric spewed by some members of the new Israeli government suggests that the situation, particularly for Palestinians living under occupation, will only get worse. The planned expansion of illegal settlements not only contravenes international law but also threatens any future efforts for peace and a two-state solution. It’s also a move that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed to oppose – yet Canada’s Liberals have been silent.
At a time when far-right groups are gaining ground around the world and we are witnessing rising antisemitism, Islamophobia, targeting of LGBTQ+ communities, and violations of human rights of vulnerable minorities everywhere, it is more important than ever that Canada speak up and oppose extremist views – no matter where they come from.
New Democrats believe in a two-state solution that is achieved by working with partners for peace in Israel and Palestine. We believe in respecting international law, supporting peaceful co-existence in viable, independent states with secure and agreed-upon borders, an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, and an end to violence targeting Palestinian and Israeli civilians. Canada must do everything it can to work towards these goals.
Today, we are calling on the Liberal government to strongly condemn the extremist policies of this new Israeli government. The Canadian government must explain what concrete steps it will take to address this very dangerous moment that threatens the lives and human rights of Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
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The rally is organized by the Hong Kong Pathway Alliance. Similar events are also taking place in Calgary and Toronto.
The pathway allows eligible Hong Kong residents in Canada, including people who studied or worked here, to apply for PR.
People here say they have waited for years and still do not know when their applications will be finished.
“Right now I’m stuck in limbo. It’s been a year and a half. I haven’t heard back from the IRCC regarding my application, and we’re continuously arguing with, we’re continuously hoping that IRCC sees our cases,” said Vikrambir Singh, another demonstrator.
“There’s not just me, there’s 40,000 plus applications that are stuck in limbo, and we don’t know when they’re going to get processed.”
They also point to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) processing time tool, which now suggests new applicants could wait more than 10 years for their PR.
The Immigration Minister recently told Parliament that there have been more than 46,000 applications under the Hong Kong PR pathways, and just over 13,000 had arrived.
“And the minister’s solution is, “don’t apply under the lifeboat scheme”. What is she even talking about? That scheme was specifically designed for Hong Kongers, said MP Jenny Kwan, representing Vancouver East for the NDP.
“So, it is absolutely outrageous that she would renege on the government’s promise in suggesting that the Hong Kongers should apply under a different stream. It is absolutely unacceptable.”
The federal government introduced special measures for Hong Kong residents in 2020, after China imposed the national security law in Hong Kong.
*Click image or link to read or watch the TV news story - https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/06/07/demonstrators-rally-hong-kong-pr-processing-backlog/
OTTAWA—The Canadian government is considering the use of artificial intelligence to save time creating influential assessment profile reports of offenders as they go to federal prisons, and is running a small-scale trial to test it, the Star has learned.
Carney government releases AI road map that aims to make Canada a leader
Federal Politics
Carney government releases AI road map that aims to make Canada a leader
Mentioned in lengthy documents tabled in Parliament last month and confirmed by Correctional Service Canada (CSC), the test run comes as the Carney government tries to ramp up AI adoption, including with billions in a national strategy released this week.
But the prison trial, which CSC says has not yet been used in real cases, is raising concerns from AI experts, criminal defence lawyers and the federal NDP’s public safety critic, who argue a widespread adoption could lead to crucial errors, exacerbate racial biases and put offenders and victims at risk.
Criminal profile reports, as they are called, are detailed “foundational documents” prepared by CSC staff during a prisoner’s intake process that identify risks and play a role in major decisions like access to programs and likelihood of parole.
Drawing from scores of official documents, they include details about an offender’s criminal history, the circumstances of their crimes, patterns of violence or behavioural, mental health and addiction issues, family and social background, trauma history, education and employment records, and even victim impact statements.
“This is what defines your offence cycle,” criminal defence lawyer Nora Demnati said of those reports. “It will have an impact on everything else that comes.”
That’s why the Carney government should slow down and consult widely, including with the CSC union, its lawyers and the Privacy Commissioner of Canada before going further, said NDP MP Jenny Kwan, the party’s public safety critic. Neither the Union of Safety and Justice Employees or the Office of the Privacy Commissioner have been consulted yet, they told the Star.
Kwan warned of a multitude of legal concerns that go both ways and can have a “cascading impact”: Violating the rights of inmates if mistakes are added to reports, on one hand, or hurting victims and prison staff if crucial information is missed by the AI summaries, on the other.
“When you have those kinds of risks associated with correctional policing matters, you can imagine what the huge ramifications might be,” Kwan told the Star. “You could potentially compromise people’s legal rights.”