Winnipeg rally calls for repeal of Safe Third Country, despite Supreme Court ruling – Winnipeg | 24CA News
Dozens of individuals headed to Winnipeg’s Central Park on Monday, becoming a member of a rally in assist of repealing a years-old settlement between Canada and the United States.
The Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the U.S. which got here into impact in 2004, was created underneath the necessity to raised handle the refugee system in every nation. According to the Canadian authorities, the settlement makes that simpler to handle by making it a requirement for refugees to request asylum within the nation they first land in. That implies that when somebody lands in Canada, asylum can’t be requested within the U.S., and vice versa – even when the preliminary request is denied.
“(The agreement) takes back Canada’s commitment to refugees and makes Canada (go back) on its obligations to protect the rights of refugees,” stated Abdikheir Ahmed, a member of the Immigration Matters in Canada Coalition. “The rally demands the government of Canada suspends the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States.”
Ahmed stated the settlement can put the lives of refugees at risk. He joined others and a lot of audio system on the rally on June 19 with the intention of advocating for refugee rights.
Seidu Mohammed, a refugee who got here to Canada in 2016, stated the settlement places refugees at risk. He famous that when he first moved to the nation, he suffered from excessive frostbite and misplaced his fingers consequently. He added that had it not been for the settlement, he would’ve been capable of finding a safer, hotter place within the U.S.
The settlement permits for 4 exceptions for any looking for asylum: if they’ve a member of the family who meets an inventory of standards similar to being a Canadian citizen: if they’re a minor who isn’t accompanied by a guardian or mother or father; if they’ve sure paperwork like a sound work allow; or in the event that they’ve been charged or convicted of an offence that holds the dying penalty in both the U.S. or one other nation.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Canada stated the laws was constitutional. This marked the top of years of authorized battles the place opponents to the settlement stated the U.S. isn’t secure for a lot of refugees and that the laws itself violates Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court docket, in its choice on June 16, stated the settlement didn’t violate an individual’s proper to life, liberty and safety of individual.
“I know how being a refugee is. It’s very difficult. I’m here to share my story,” stated Mohammed. “The government needs to do something about it, because refugees are also human.”
Speaking to reporters final week, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser stated that Canada will proceed to stay a world chief in resettling among the world’s most susceptible folks.
“It’s important if we’re going to continue to have the ambition of being a world leader in refugee resettlement that we promote regular migration pathways and orderly management at the border,” he stated.
– with information from Global’s Uday Rana
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