This week, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration continued its study of Bill C-43, receiving testimony from numerous humanitarian organizations, immigration reform movements, and advocates of safety and public security.
On October 29th, the committee heard testimony from representatives of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario and the Canadian Council for Refugees about the ways in which Bill C-43 exposed vulnerable immigrant groups to deportation without adequate recourse for appeal, or a substantive understanding of the contextual considerations which may have led to deportation. The committee also heard testimony from Julie Taub, an immigration lawyer, who applauded the expediency to which Bill C-43 proposed to remove foreign criminals from Canada.
On October, 31st, the committee heard testimony from representatives of Amnesty International, who believed that Bill C-43, especially in its removal of appeal mechanisms for individuals facing deportation, prevented the administration of justice for immigrants, and voided Canada of its international legal obligations. Testimony was also heard from Tom Stamatakas of the Canadian Police Association and Sharon Rosenfeldt from Victims of Violence, who both believed that Bill C-43 would make Canadian communities safer. Additional testimony was also received from James Bissett of the Centre for Immigration Policy Reform, who advocated that Bill C-43 is long overdue and is a modest first step in combating the problems facing Canada’s immigration system.