On the early morning of Friday November 5th the migrant justice group No One Is Illegal (Ottawa) has unfurled a massive banner on the Pinecrest/Greenbank bridge over the 417 in protest of Bill C-49.
Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney have proposed a new Immigration Act, Bill C-49. It would allow the Minister of Public Safety to declare any group of migrants coming in to Canada, a 'smuggling incident'. There is no definition of a 'smuggler' in this Act.
For the asylum seekers who are declared part of an incident (which could be anyone making a refugee claim in a groups of 2 or more), the Conservative government wants to:
Jail them for a minimum of one year
Deny access to health services
Deny monthly detention reviews, allowing migrants in jail a chance to gain freedom only once every 6 months
Be able to revoke people's refugee status after it has been granted by the refugee determination process
Ban applications for permanent residence for five years after gaining refugee status
Bar people from reuniting with their families for five years after gaining refugee status
Stop people from leaving Canada for five years after gaining refugee status
Deny the right of appeal to a rejected refugee claim
Put in an ex-CSIS director and the man responsible for police brutality during the G20 as a special advisor on human migration
No One Is Illegal (Ottawa), as well as many other migrant rights groups across Canada are outraged by this proposed Bill.
We think it is imperative that people across Canada are aware of this bill and its implications. No One Is Illegal is also co-ordinating a letter writing and fax campaign.
No One Is Illegal (Ottawa) believes that all forms of migration should never be criminalized, specifically refugees often are forced to make the difficult but necessary decision to travel in irregular ways. In doing so they are not breaking any laws, but rather are doing what is necessary for their families and their own safety. Furthermore we oppose border militarization as well as all forms of racism and xenophobia.
We are a coalition of migrants and allies that advocates and fights for the rights, dignity, and respect of immigrants and refugees, as well as those living without status in Canada. we are against capitalism and we believe in abolishing borders. We call for Status For All. We also stand in solidarity with the struggles of indigenous peoples for land, self-determination and sovereignty for further media enquires contact us at: noiiottawa@gmail.com
