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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How your data determines what you pay!
What if the price you pay at the store is different than the person standing next to you?
Corporations can use personal data such as location, device type, browsing history, purchase behavior, login status, and loyalty cards/programs to profile consumers and determine what different people are charged for the same goods and services.
How can we stop this from happening in Canada?
Join MP Jenny Kwan, Patrick Johnson - President of UFCW 1518, Jim Stanford - Economist and Director of Centre for Future Work, Avi Lewis - NDP Leader and Benjamin Fung - Canada Research Chair in Data Mining for Cybersecurity and other experts, for a public forum and community conversation about what surveillance pricing means for consumers and workers, how technology and personal data are changing the way prices are set, and what everyday people can do to fight back.
*Scan QR code, click the image or this link to register your attendance - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/your-data-their-price-a-town-hall-on-surveillance-pricing-tickets-1998495899032
IRCC taking 33 months to process applications in wake of 'lost Canadians' law
When Pascal Sud and Meisha Smith prepared in January for the arrival of their first child, the choice seemed simple.
Smith would give birth in her home country of Jamaica where she had family support, and then they would together return to Montreal three months later.
At the time, the wait time for the citizenship certificate that their daughter, Sofianne, needed to fly back to Canada was between four and six weeks.
But more than eight months later, they're still waiting.
Sud is back at work in Montreal while Smith and Sofianne are still in Jamaica.
"It's been very frustrating," said Sud. "I was lucky to be there for three months … but I've been missing every step since, and it's been very difficult to be apart from them."
He's not alone.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is struggling to handle a flood of citizenship applications — many of them from a change to federal law late last year that allows anyone who can prove they have a Canadian ancestor to apply.
That backlog is preventing Canadians born abroad like Sofianne from coming home.
According to the department's most recent update on Sept. 3, there are 136,000 applications waiting to be processed. Those applying for a citizenship certificate now face a wait of 33 months.
NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan called on the government to restore staffing and resources that were cut at IRCC, calling the processing delays "simply unreasonable and unacceptable."
*Click image or link to read the full news story - https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadian-citizenship-lost-canadians-c3-backlog-9.7366981