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Libby speaking up for a fair immigration and refugee system

April 29, 2010 Speeches in Parliament

House of Commons
HANSARD Debates

Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Federal Courts Act

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to rise in the House today to speak to Bill C-11.

I will focus my comments on the system overall. For many Canadians, and certainly internationally, Canada has a reputation as being a place that is welcoming and open not only to immigrants but to refugees. The NDP believes the cornerstone of any refugee determination system is that the process has to be fast and fair.

In some ways the proof of the system is in the individual cases. While we cannot go into individual cases here, as MPs, we are very familiar with the process as it relates to individuals cases in our constituency offices. I know, over my 13 years in this place, sometimes there is a sense of heartbreak of what people go through in terms of the refugee system, the appeal process, the wait times and the amount of stress and anxiety.

It is really important that we devise a system that is fair to people, a system that is not open to abuse but is fair and fast. This is a primary consideration. As one my colleagues said earlier, we want to ensure that each case is dealt with on its merits. It is very easy to make generalizations.

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Libby speaking out on GLBTT rights and Canada's new immigration guide

November 17, 2009
Xtra
New immigrants guide glosses over gaysA recently released guidebook for new immigrants, Discover Canada, is a mixed bag of trivia and ideology. The handbook has an explicit section on gender equality, where it condemns the "barbaric cultural practices" of spousal abuse, honour killings and female genital mutilation. There is a section on diversity that gives a shout out to atheism but leaves out gays or lesbians. Queer people are relegated to a sidebar next to a photo of Mark Tewksbury, in the section devoted to sports, arts and culture. And that has MPs shaking their heads. "I always worried that it was more of a political, ideological message more than anything else," says lesbian NDP MP Libby Davies of the guide.
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Libby supporting war resisters

November 13, 2009
Vancouver Courier
AWOL in VancouverFacing a second tour in Iraq, U.S. army corporal Rodney Watson fled to Canada and now lives in the First United Church on East Hastings while his government presses for his return. Watson was eventually ordered to leave the country Sept. 11, 2009, after two deportation stays during the summer.....On Aug. 12, seven B.C. NDP members of Parliament wrote the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Jason Kenney, asking him to intervene in Watson's case. Libby Davies, MP for Vancouver East, was one of the signatories and says she will continue to support Watson in his fight to stay. "I believe he has a legal reason to seek refugee status in Canada," says Davies, noting that Watson's situation is more difficult than it appears. "He's taking on this whole system. It's obviously a very hard decision to make." Many people support his decision, Davies says. She points to an Angus Reid poll conducted in June 2008 with 64 per cent of Canadians supporting permanent residence for fugitive soldiers. "Canada has a history of welcoming war resisters," Davies says. A fugitive in Canada and the U.S., Watson sought refuge at the First United Church on East Hastings after meeting Rev. Ric Matthews at a press conference. Matthews says taking Watson in is part of church tradition.
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Libby calls on Justice Minister to stop extradition of Marc Emery

October 2, 2009 Open Letters to Ministers & Public Officials

September 28, 2009

The Honourable Rob Nicholson
Minister of Justice
105 East Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

Dear Minister Nicholson,

I write once again to ask that you stop the extradition of Canadian Marc Emery to the United States and allow him to serve his prison sentence in Canada.

Canadian law enforcement officials have for a decade ignored Mr. Emery’s well publicized activities. I have expressed to you on many occasions my vehement opposition to sending Mr. Emery or any Canadian to face harsh punishment in another country when we have agreed as a society that these actions are not worthy of prosecution in Canada. Yet, your government has refused to intervene on Mr. Emery’s behalf and he will now serve a five year prison term in the United States.

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NDP MPs URGE HALT TO IRAQ WAR RESISTER DEPORTATION

August 13, 2008 Press Release

BURNABY: New Democrat MPs Libby Davies (Vancouver East), Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster), Alex Atamanenko (British Columbia Southern Interior), Denise Savoie (Victoria), Jean Crowder (Nanimo Cowichan), Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway), and Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas) have urged the federal government to stop all removal action against US Iraq war resister Rodney Watson.

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NDP MPs URGE HALT TO IRAQ WAR RESISTER DEPORTATION

July 12, 2009 Open Letters to Ministers & Public Officials

OTTAWA
12 August 2009

The Honourable Jason Kenney, PC MP
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration,
The Honourable Peter Van Loan, PC MP
Minister of Public Safety,
House of Commons
OTTAWA ON K1A 0A6

Dear Ministers,

We are writing with regard to impending removal from Canada of Rodney Watson. Mr. Watson is an Iraq war resister who has made a refugee claim in Canada. As you know, Canada refused to participate in the war in Iraq which many Canadians believe to be an illegal war.

We would strongly urge you to immediately intervene to cease all deportation action against Mr. Watson and to allow him to remain in Canada.

In doing so, we would again draw your attention to the concurrence motions passed in both the 39th and 40th Parliaments which called on the government to establish a specific programme for war resisters who seek asylum and permanent residence in Canada.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your early reply.

Sincerely yours,

Bill Siksay MP
Burnaby-Douglas

On behalf of:
Libby Davies MP Don Davies MP
Vancouver East Vancouver Kingsway

Peter Julian MP Alex Atamanenko MP
Burnaby-New Westminster British Columbia Southern Interior

Jean Crowder MP Denise Savoie MP
Nanaimo Cowichan Victoria

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Justice for Abousfian Abdelzarik

June 4, 2009 Question Period

Question Period
House of Commons
HANSARD

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the Federal Court ruling today makes it clear that the government breached the charter rights of Canadian citizen Mr. Abdelrazik by forcing him to remain stranded in Sudan. The court declared:

There is no evidence in the record before this Court on which one could reasonably conclude that Mr. Abdelrazik has any connection to terrorism or terrorists...

The government does not get to choose to whom the charter applies. Will the Prime Minister finally do the right thing and bring Mr. Abdelrazik home?

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