Toronto Star. Published On Thu Apr 26 2012. Ritika Goel, Baijayanta Mukhopadhyay, Joshua Wales and Mei-ling Wiedmeyer

This winter, Jason Kenney introduced Bill C-31, the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act, in Parliament. We have been watching the debate around this bill with some concern. It seems that Kenney believes the system needs protection from migrants. We, on the other hand, believe migrants, particularly refugees, need protection from his bill. We are a group of primary care physicians who support our patients, many of whom are refugees, to live proactively healthy lives. This approach is good medical practice, and yes, it even reduces health-care costs. We also recognize that people’s health status is dependent on their social and political realities. We therefore advocate for policies that support healthy living and condemn those that cause harm. And thus, our contention with the bill.

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CBC News, Posted: Apr 1, 2012 3:45 PM ET

More than 280,000 people who have been waiting years for a decision on their immigration files could be soon be chopped from the list as the federal government moves to streamline its immigration practices. It’s a decision some immigration lawyers are calling a betrayal by the government that they say is changing the rules too late in the game.

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Today, on Refugee Rights Day, Refugee rights activists are occupying Conservative MP offices, Immigration and Canadian Border Services Agency offices, and dropping banners in SEVEN cities

UPDATES:

1) NOII Announcement linked here:
http://www.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/10436

2) PHOTOS from the actions are linked here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nooneisillegal/

3) Live updates and pictures are being streamed through
https://www.twitter.com/NoOneIsIllegal
Please visit and share; you do not need a twitter account to access these.

4) Press release linked here: https://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=4789

TODAY IS REFUGEE RIGHTS DAY: In a coordinated effort on Refugee Rights Day, members of refugee and immigrant rights groups including No One Is Illegal are occupying Immigration/Canadian Border Services Agency offices in Vancouver Coast Salish Territories. We received lots of support from refugees who were in the offices at the same time, many with pending deportation orders, many unaware of the horrific impacts of the proposed Bill C31. Conservative MP offices are being occupied in Ottawa, Toronto, St. Catharines and Edmonton. Banners have also been dropped in Montreal and Halifax and Vancouver Coast Salish Territories. These actions are being organized to demand that the Refugee Exclusion Act, Bill C-31, be
discarded.

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by Sandra Cuffe, Vancouver Media Co-op

Chants against Bill C-31 rang out in Spanish at the intersection of West Georgia and Hamilton on Wednesday afternoon, when dozens of people gathered in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board office to protest the proposed reforms to Canada’s refugee determination system. The rally was organized by the Movement to Protect the Human Rights of Refugees and Immigrants, a nascent coalition spearheaded by individuals and groups from various Latin American communities in Vancouver. With a position of total opposition to Bill C-31, also known as the ‘Refugee Exclusion Act’ and the ‘Anti-Smuggling Bill,’ the group coalesced after two well-attended community meetings and decided to call the rally.

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FOR IMMEDIATE NATIONAL RELEASE
APRIL 4, REFUGEE RIGHTS DAY

www.twitter.com/nooneisillegal
www.nooneisillegal.org
www.facebook.com/NoOneIsIllegalNetwork
#RefugeeExclusion #noBillC31

BREAKING NEWS: Refugee and immigrant rights activists occupying Conservative MP offices, others actions in SEVEN cities across Canada on Refugee Rights Day, today April 4th.

Canada – In a coordinated effort, members of refugee and immigrant rights groups including No One Is Illegal are occupying Conservative MP offices in Ottawa, Toronto, St. Catharines, Edmonton, and Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories. Banners have also been dropped in Montreal and Halifax. These actions coincide with April 4, Refugee Rights Day, and are being organized to demand that the Refugee Exclusion Act, Bill C-31, be discarded.

Live updates and pictures are being streamed through https://www.twitter.com/NoOneIsIllegal

» click here to continue reading