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Chinese Head Tax

November 23, 2005 Open Letters to Ministers & Public Officials

Hon. Paul Martin, House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Prime Minister Martin,

We write to express our deep disappointment in the decision of your government to sign a back-door, $12.5 million agreement of redress for Chinese Canadians that effectively ignores the wishes of thousands of head tax payers and their families.

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Libby Davies Presents Plans to Reunite More Families in Canada

October 30, 2003 Press Release

VANCOUVER - Vancouver East NDP MP Libby Davies held a press conference today on her votable Bill to help more families reunite in Canada. Davies was joined by Mary-Woo Sims, former B.C. Chief Human Rights Commissioner.

Davies' “Once in Lifetime” Bill, called C-436, would allow a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor, on one occasion, a family member who would otherwise not qualify under family class provisions.

“I believe Canada’s immigration system must have a much stronger emphasis on family reunification and I believe this bill would begin to address this shortcoming,” said Davies.

The idea has already received tremendous support. In the year 2000, groups in Vancouver collected over 15,000 signatures in support of this policy change. The idea was floated by the former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Elinor Caplan during the 2000 election but was later dropped.

“The reason we received support is because the current definitions are so narrow and restrictive that it becomes very difficult to undertake family reunification under the present policies,” commented Davies.

Relatives under these proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) would be regarded as a family class sponsor, even though they would not be one of the relatives outlined in the Act.

“It has been clear that over recent years the federal government’s migration targets have not been met,” said Davies. “This “Once in a Lifetime” bill would allow them to do so and to live up to their own commitment to promote family reunification.”

Davies has also invited the public to submit their immigration “horror stories.” Five of the worst cases will be brought to the attention of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, urging him to deal with the mess and chronic backlogs that plague his department.

Davies will have the first hour of debate on Bill C-436 in Parliament on Monday November 3rd at 11 am (EST).

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Police Actions Against Non-Status Algerians

June 9, 2003 Statements in the House of Parliament

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the government is choosing to allow the criminalization of dissent and diversity in an increasingly brutal fashion. I join a growing number of people who are calling for an independent public inquiry into police actions against non-status Algerians on May 29, 2003.

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"Once in a Lifetime" Bill

May 15, 2003 Statements in the House of Parliament

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to rise in the House today to introduce my Bill. I believe it will help reunite families in Canada. The Bill, called "once in a lifetime", would, simply put, allow someone to sponsor a relative to come to Canada who otherwise would not qualify under the immigration family class rules.

I know in Vancouver East and across the country there are many families desperate to reunite with a family member. The Bill would allow them to do that in a reasonable and compassionate way.

I truly hope that Members of all parties will support the Bill to strengthen our multicultural diversity in Canada and to support families.

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Racial Profiling

March 19, 2003 Question Period

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Not only are border communities facing enormous difficulties, but individual Canadians are facing harassment, racial profiling registration and now the new visa requirements by the U.S. Even Canadian citizens who cross the border daily to go to work in the U.S. are facing interrogation when they return by Canadian officials no less.

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