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CTV News: Syrian human rights defender becomes a permanent resident of Canada after being flagged as a security risk

On June 30, two NDP members of Parliament sent a letter with an urgent request for a briefing on the case to federal ministers responsible for foreign affairs, immigration and public safety.

In a copy of the letter provided to CTV News, MPs Heather McPherson and Jenny Kwan wrote that they “are alarmed by this case and its implications not just for Noura, but for all human rights defenders seeking safety in Canada.

Is it this government’s position that human rights advocacy, including opposing brutal dictatorships that torture their citizens renders a person inadmissible for permanent residency?”

Five days later, Aljizawi was granted permanent residency on July 5. Since her case became public, Aljizawi says she’s heard from three other democracy activists who are facing scrutiny under Section 34.

Kwan, the NDP’s immigration critic, says that Aljizawi’s high profile added pressure on the government to act. But the MP says she also worries that lesser known human rights activists under similar suspicion will not be protected.

Kwan says immigration officials need to reassess how they use Section 34 in evaluating the applications of human rights defenders

 

Media Release: Loblaws to open back channel with the Liberals after NDP hammers on sky-high food prices

“After months of Jagmeet Singh and the NDP calling out Loblaws for using inflation as a cover to jack-up food prices for Canadians, Loblaws has now registered to lobby the Competition Bureau on the price of food and competition. Trudeau and his Liberal government have sat on their hands while Loblaws takes advantage of Canadians, and now they want even more protection to keep raking in record profits. Loblaws opening a back door to the Liberal government only raises more questions about Loblaws' claim that rising food prices are out of their control.

They know the Liberals and Conservatives are on the side of the CEO class, and they want to keep it that way. Loblaws can smell their goose is cooked – Canadians are fed up with their enormous grocery bills and they want action. That’s why the NDP has been fighting for the every day Canadians, standing up to companies like Loblaws, as their corporate greed devastates ordinary Canadians. And it doesn’t get any better with Poilievre and his conservative party – who has demonstrated no willingness to take on big corporations’ greed.

It’s time for the government to break up the big food cartels and strengthen competition laws. We need a windfall tax, now, so it’s Canadians who get ahead, not the ultra-rich CEOs of large grocers. The NDP will keep fighting to stack the deck towards ordinary Canadians, not the ultra-wealthy.”

Media Release: Over 9.5 million Canadians to receive hundreds of dollars back in their pockets thanks to the NDP

OTTAWA— On Wednesday, for a second time in less than a year, millions of Canadian families are receiving hundreds of dollars – a family with two children will get up to $467 - to help them deal with high costs after significant pressure from Canada’s New Democrats. While the amount that people have been paying for food, rent, and other necessities like gas and home heating fuel has remained high, Jagmeet Singh and the NDP relentlessly pushed the government to double the GST rebate to give families some financial breathing room.

“People have been working hard, and tightening their belts as the cost of living has soared over the last year. Canadians feel like they’re doing everything right, but they just can’t get ahead—it’s not right,” said Singh. “That’s why New Democrats fought so hard to get families, seniors and students a little extra support.

Statement on the marking of 100 years commemoration of Canada’s 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act

As we commemorate the centenary of the racist practices that the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act encoded into law one hundred years, it is important to shine a light on this history, and to address the root causes of racism, hatred and discrimination. This unconscionable federal law prevented Chinese people from immigrating to Canada. It created untold sorrow and suffering, separated families and broke intergenerational ties. It undermined and prevented Chinese communities trying to grow and flourish in their new home in Canada.

This was just one of many racist laws that discriminated and segregated people on the basis of race and cultural or ethnic origin. Starting in 1885, the Federal government forced Chinese immigrants to pay a “head tax” on arrival to Canada. In 1908, the Federal government’s “continuous journey” rule was adopted to bar new migrants from Asian countries who travelled by ship routes with stopovers.

Different jurisdictions passed targeted laws to prevent migrants from Asian countries and racialized people from taking certain jobs, even to stop them from taking part in leisure activities like swimming.

During and after the Second World War, federal law caused thousands of Japanese Canadians to lose their personal property to seizure and face imprisonment in interment camps or forced labour in harsh conditions, far from home.

Voice: CBSA: Criminal charges against Brijesh Mishra for fake admission letters to Indian students

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on Friday announced that charges have been laid against Brijesh Mishra, a citizen of India, for immigration-related offences.

He has been accused of providing fake college admission letters to hundreds of students from the Indian state of Punjab to enter Canada. The letters were found to be fake only last year when students, who were unaware that they had been duped, started applying for permanent residency.

Following information provided to the CBSA concerning Mishra’s status in Canada, as well his alleged involvement in activities related to counseling misrepresentation, CBSA launched an investigation.
Mishra tried to enter Canada and was found to be inadmissible by the CBSA. He was arrested and remained in custody until he was charged.

Province: Opposition MPs demand answers on why security risks were allowed into Canada

OTTAWA – Opposition parties say the fact the government allowed half of foreign nationals red-flagged as security risks into the country between 2014 and 2019 is shocking and erodes Canadians’ trust in the immigration system.

“This is very concerning and undermines trust and confidence of Canada’s immigration process,” NDP MP and Immigration critic Jenny Kwan said in a statement Tuesday.

She was responding to a National Post report Tuesday morning that between 2014 and 2019, 46 per cent of foreign nationals flagged by security agencies to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for ties to serious offences such as war crimes, espionage and terrorism were allowed to take up residency in Canada.

Media Release: The NDP forced the Liberals to deliver affordable, accessible, quality child care for Canadian families

As C-35 — a National Child Care Program — passes through third reading in the House of Commons, NDP critic for Families, Children and Social Development Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) issued the following statement:

“For decades, parents across Canada have had to scramble to find child care that suits their needs and that won’t break the bank.

After almost thirty years of broken Liberal promises, it took the dedication and relentless efforts of child care workers, advocates and New Democrats to push them to finally deliver a National Child Care program.

Left on their own, the Liberals would have delayed the National Child Care program even further. And Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives have a track record of opposing affordable child care for Canadians.

Thanks to the NDP’s pressure through the Confidence and Supply Agreement and child care advocates' tireless work, a National Child Care Program will include long-term federal funding for provinces and Indigenous peoples to deliver affordable, accessible, inclusive and quality child care that families deserve.

LINK: Canada halts imminent deportation of international students, but with a clause

NDP Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Jenny Kwan who has been supporting international students welcomed the news but said Fraser failed to say if he’ll waive inadmissibility on the basis of misrepresentation or grant a pathway to permanent status for the students as called for systematically by the NDP. New Democrats urge the Minister on act on those quickly.

“While the task force evaluates these cases, the government must also ensure that these students will be able to continue to work or study in Canada—otherwise they cannot survive. If they don’t have an Open work permit or study permit, they cannot afford rent or food. And these students have already invested everything they had to come study in Canada. The Minister must urgently act to ensure they are supported,” she said. 

Media Release: NDP reacts to the Supreme Court decision regarding the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA)

“Today’s Supreme Court of Canada's decision regarding the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) is a partial victory for advocates for asylum seekers' rights.

The Canadian Council for Refugees, Amnesty International, Canadian Council of Churches and others challenged the Liberal government in the Supreme Court stating that the STCA violates Section 7, related to right to life, liberty and security of a person, and section 15, related to equality rights within the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In their decision, the Supreme Court of Canada stated that Section 15 on equality rights are just as important as every other human right and ruled that this challenge to the STCA should be sent back to the Federal Court for determination.

In particular, girls, women and 2SLGTBQIA+ people fearing gender-based persecution are adversely affected by the Safe Third Country Agreement. Even the government’s own lawyers acknowledged that the recent expansion of the STCA could increase the risks of human trafficking and sexual violence often disproportionately targeted at migrant women, girls, and 2SLGTBQIA+ people. They further noted that an urgent exemption for those faced with gender-based persecution is needed.

OPEN LETTER: Urging Immigration Minister to exercise discretion and have inadmisibility waived under section 25.2

As Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, you also have the authority to exercise discretion and have inadmissibility waived to a broader class of individuals through a temporary public policy, under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugees Protection Act. Once the task force has completed their important work, I urge that you use this authority to assist victims of fraud by having their inadmissibility waived.

I have continuously called on the government to waive inadmissibility on the basis of misrepresentation for these students who have been exploited by bad actors. As you know, students deemed to be inadmissible are subject to a 5-year ban from entering Canada. The international students have already suffered enough. Some have sold everything they own to pay tuition to complete their education and to hire lawyers. This is wrong and you have the authority to act.

I also continue to urge that you provide an alternate pathway to permanent residency to allow the students to remain in Canada.

I remain willing to work with you on this important matter so that we can find a solution for all impacted students and prevent further suffering.