Criminalising Refugees
The arrival in Vancouver by boat two weeks ago of 76 refugees from Sri Lanka has triggered a predictable wave of paranoia and xenophobia, not the least of which has come from our own Ministry…
Immigration Law
Sanctuary for war resister: Rodney Watson takes refuge in Vancouver church
By Krystalline Kraus, reproduced with permission The battle to keep U.S. Iraq war resisters in Canada has been ongoing since January 2004 when Jeremy Hinzman first arrived in Canada and filed a refugee claim as…
Permanent residence granted after 4 years in church sanctuary
Sanctuary gives way to freedom Andrew Chung writes: The federal government decided to grant Belaouni permanent residency status, made official on Oct. 22, despite ordering him deported in late 2005, when his application to stay…
Government promises tougher refugee legislation
Canada to take hard line with would-be migrants Jane Armstrong and John Ibbitson write for the Globe: Canada’s Immigration Minister has signalled that he intends to play hardball with 76 men believed to be from…
Another evidence flop in a security certificate case
Judge orders CSIS to hand over file Bill Curry writes for the Globe: The Federal Court is ordering Canada’s spy agency to disclose a second human source in the Mohamed Harket case, an exceptional decision…
Charkaoui is free
Judge formally strikes down security certificate against Charkaoui Charkaoui is a landed immigrant who was arrested in Montreal in 2003 under security-certificate legislation that allows Canada to expel foreign-born individuals if they are considered a…
Try again?
Third security certificate is double jeopardy, court told Mahmoud Jaballah was first detained under a security certificate in 1999. He was released after the courts found the certificate to be unreasonable. Jaballah was re-arrested in…
Ottawa abandons case against Charkaoui
Divisive terror law losing traction Can we trust secret evidence, often borrowed from foreign countries, to throw people out of Canada? Colin Freeze explains the security certificates: … federal ministers sign off on a certificate…
The Case of Derek Twyman: A Punishment of Unusual Cruelty
Derek Twyman (a Canadian citizen) has spent two decades in North Carolinian prisons, and is slated to be released on parole in the year 2055 – when he is approximately 90-years-old. His crimes? A series of non-violent burglaries. The law has since changed, but Derek remains incarcerated to this day.
Legal fight continues for ‘refugee’ from South Africa
Government appeals asylum ruling for South African The federal government is appealing a controversial decision by an independent tribunal to grant asylum to a white South African because he feared black persecution in his homeland….
Charkaoui: the name every Canadian law student knows
Six years in legal labyrinth Charkaoui, however, is the legal star of the five. He’s won two Supreme Court challenges and, as he gradually demolished Ottawa’s case against him, managed to make the government look…
Humanitarian grounds
Family can’t keep ailing mother in Canada “She’s old, she can’t see … Who will look after her in Poland? All the family is here,” Pindiur said in halting English. “Can you help her stay…