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e-795 (Refugees)

E-petition
Initiated by Kirsten Hurworth from Victoria, British Columbia

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:
  • The federal Cabinet and Supreme Court have failed to properly review the United States' "safe third country" status since Canada v. Canadian Council for Refugees (2008 FCA 229);
  • The inauguration of a blatantly misogynistic, racist, anti-LGBTQ, fear-mongering government raises grave questions as to the United States' position as a "safe third country" for immigrants;
  • Imminent changes to American policy threaten to violate immigrants' Charter rights to life, liberty and security of the person; and
  • Given the extreme political climate generated by the Trump administration, Canada's refusal to accept refugees at our American land border violates Article 33 of the Refugee Convention and Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture, which states that no refugee may be returned to a place where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group.
We, the undersigned, the people of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to dismantle the Safe Third Country Agreement immediately, and take further steps to welcome and support refugees seeking asylum in North America, regardless of their country of origin, religion, gender, or sexuality. This accord has stood as a failure of human compassion and international humanitarian principles since its inception, and will continue to perpetrate immeasurable damage as the Trump administration puts their aggressively anti-immigrant policies into action. For our government to stand by would be nothing short of a national disgrace - but our shame, our guilt, will do nothing for the oppressed. We must stand as allies and friends, striving to uphold the principles of freedom and dignity for all.
Open for signature
June 1, 2017, at 2:52 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
September 29, 2017, at 2:52 p.m. (EDT)
Photo - Randall Garrison
Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke
New Democratic Party Caucus
British Columbia