TOWNHALL Meeting April 4: Saving Our Environment

Globe & Mail: Midwife barred from working in B.C. heads home to Scotland amid health care worker shortage

A Scottish-born midwife, who was ordered to stop working in British Columbia and threatened with deportation, has returned home, highlighting what advocates say is a case of a foreign-trained health care worker getting entangled in bureaucratic errors amid a shortage in the province.

Heather Gilchrist, who worked at The Midwives Collective in Victoria for about six months, left for Glasgow, Scotland, on Saturday after she was unable to get clearance from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to remain in the country. Ms. Gilchrist completed the Internationally Educated Midwives Bridging Program through the University of British Columbia, which helps graduates transition to working in Canada.

She was told her work permit was not approved because she failed to upload an English proficiency test, according to politicians and families who have supported her. Later, immigration officials erroneously told her the UBC program did not lead to a certificate, diploma or degree, the supporters said. Ms. Gilchrist could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

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At the end of last month, two of Ms. Collins’s former parliamentary colleagues, Gord Johns and Jenny Kwan, wrote to Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab about Ms. Gilchrist’s situation.

The letter, dated March 28, detailed how IRCC initially rejected Ms. Gilchrist’s postgraduate work permit because results from an English exam were not uploaded. It said an online portal did not provide a prompt and that Ms. Gilchrist provided a copy of her results to the department but didn’t hear back.

The letter from the NDP MPs also described how the IRCC reviewed Ms. Gilchrist’s file again, but it was refused a second time because the IRCC claimed the UBC program does not lead to a certificate, diploma or degree. Ms. Kwan and Mr. Johns wrote that the program provided confirmation that graduates are eligible for a work permit upon its completion.

Click link to read the full news story - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-midwife-barred-from-working-in-bc-heads-home-to-scotland-amid-health/

Commemorating Stephen Lewis

I’m deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Stephen Lewis at the age of 88, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was a titan of democratic socialism with a global outlook that spoke to our better angels. His oratory remains legendary around the world. He could hold a room like no other. My thoughts go out to Stephen's wife Michelle, to Avi and the entire Lewis family.

Stephen Lewis spent a lifetime fighting for what mattered most: human rights, equality for women, and justice for the world’s most vulnerable—especially African families devastated by HIV/AIDS. His weapon was his voice, and it was one of unmatched eloquence, integrity, and conviction. He had the moral courage to speak out when it mattered. In the hallways of the UN to the corridors of power, he cornered political leaders and pushed them to act with urgency.

Even in his final years, he faced illness with the same indomitable energy that defined his life’s work. As his family so powerfully shared, he remained committed to “the unending struggle for justice and dignity for every human life.” That commitment never wavered. Avi's speech at the NDP Convention in Winnipeg spoke beautifully about how closely Stephen watched the details of the NDP leadership race. What a proud moment it must have been for him to witness the announcement of the leadership result.

Whether as a political leader, diplomat, or global advocate, he championed the disenfranchised, spoke out against violence and inequality, and helped bring the realities of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa to the world’s attention with urgency and humanity. He had a rare ability to both challenge and collaborate—to speak hard truths while still bringing people together to act. For those of us in political life, he asked us dig deeper and bring moral courage, urgency and clarity to our work. I was honoured that he attended my event when I first ran federally in 2015 - and, as always, he inspired the entire room.

His legacy is profound and enduring, reflected not only in policy and social progress, but in the countless lives he touched and inspired through his indomitable work ethic. He made us all better.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who were moved by his words and his work. The world has truly lost a uniquely remarkable generational voice that will continue to inspire the next generation of leaders.

OPEN LETTER: Elected Member of European Parliament denied entry to Canada

I’ve issued an open letter to the Ministers of Immigration & Public Safety regarding the unjust denial of entry to MEP Rima Hassan. This last-minute reversal of her eTA raises grave concerns about political neutrality & freedom of expression in Canada.I am calling for an immediate explanation & for the Ministers to facilitate her entry to allow for scheduled democratic exchange