what: emergency planning meeting
when: thursday, april 16th, 6pm
where: OPIRG Ottawa U, 631 King Edward Ave
allies in toronto have asked for solidarity actions to take place in several cities across the country, including ottawa. see details below. this meeting will be to plan an action to take place soon, and is open to all. please forward widely.
****
ACT! CALL! WRITE!
This Sunday, 41 workers will be handcuffed, dragged to an airport and placed on a plane to Thailand. Many of them will never have the chance to return to Canada. They were arrested with dozens of others on their way to work or while packing food at Cericola Farms, in southwestern Ontario last week. CBSA then lied to them and tricked them into waiving their legal rights. This is a targeted attack by the Tory government against migrants. Minister Van Loan can stop these deportations; Minister Kenney can grant them status.
YOU can insist that they do so.
1. Take public action against your MP, Immigration or Enforcement Office. (See list of cities below)
2. Spread the word!
(http://rabble.ca/news/2009/04/protests-respond-ontario-immigration-raids)
3. Call Kenney and Van Loan. And call your local MP to pressure the Ministers.
4. Send a letter to Ministers Van Loan and Kenney (sample below). Ask your MP to do the same. Write to your local media outlet.
5. Spread the word. Stop the raids. Stop the deportations. Demand status for all. On 2 May, take to the streets (http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/275)
Further details in sample letter below.
Peter Van Loan, Minister
Constituency Office
T 1-877-738-3748; T: 613-996-7752
F 905-898-4600; F 613-992-8351
E vanlop1@parl.gc.ca
45 Grist Mill Road, Unit 10, Holland Landing, ON L9N1M7
Room 209-S, Centre Block, Ottawa, ON K1A0A6
Jason Kenney, Minister
P. 613-992-2235; F. 613-992-1920
P. 403-225-3480. F. 403-225-3504
E Minister@cic.gc.ca. AND kennej@parl.gc.ca
325 East Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
1168 137 Ave SE. Calgary, AB T2J 6T6
Ministers Van Loan and Kenney,
On April 2nd and 3rd, CBSA raided three food processing factories where they held all workers at gun point. These workers were herded into a cafeteria where citizens and permanent residents were separated from other workers.
These other workers, many of whom possess temporary work permits, were handcuffed and held on a bus for over eight hours. In unprecedented weekend hearings, most of the detained workers were tricked into waiving legal advice or the right to dispute their removal.
These illegal and egregious actions were followed by speedy requests for travel documents, as their original passports are held by unscrupulous, corrupt agents at TNT Recruitment. The Thai consulate has provided these papers and 41 of the arrested are being put on a plane on Sunday April 19th.
Removing workers from Canada in this way is arbitrary and illegal. The recruitment agency and the company which paid these workers $9.00 an hour for 12 hours of back-breaking and brutal work have not been charged.
Minister Van Loan, sign a notice to stop the deportations. Minister Kenney, grant all workers arrested full status. Stop using the economic crisis as an excuse to target migrant workers and their families!
++++++++++++++++++++++
Endorsed by
No One Is Illegal-Toronto
Justicia for Migrant Workers
Migrante Ontario
No One Is Illegal Vancouver
Solidarity Across Borders (Montreal)
Immigrant Workers Center (Montreal)
++++++++++++++++++++++
Actions:
18 April
Toronto
Details to be announced
17 April
Montreal
Meet at downtown CBSA Offices
14 April
Calgary
1130, Calgary Chamber of Commerce
100 - 6 Avenue S.W
9 April
Vancouver
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=1048
7 April
Edmonton
http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/local/article/210247
5 April
Toronto
http://rabble.ca/news/2009/04/protests-respond-ontario-immigration-raids
(Please email nooneisillegal@riseup.net if you're organizing an action)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
CALL TO SUPPORT ABOUSFIAN ABDELRAZIK
Count down to 3 April: Less than three weeks to hold government to its promise
Abousfian Abdelrazik is a Montreal man whose name may take its place among a growing list of victims of a Canadian version of 'extraordinary rendition'.
Internal government memos and other documents released under the Privacy Act reveal that, like Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati and Muayyed Nureddin - all imprisoned and tortured in Syria on the request of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the RCMP, as confirmed by the federal Iacobucci Inquiry - Mr. Abdelrazik was also jailed on the recommendation of CSIS, while on a visit to Sudan. In prison, he was beaten and tortured. In this horrific context, he was interrogated by CSIS officials complicit in his arrest.
Eventually released and cleared of all suspicion by Sudan, as well as the RCMP and CSIS, his many attempts to return home to Montreal have been blocked rather than aided by Canadian officials. Since the story became public in late April 2008, Mr. Abdelrazik has been living in 'temporary safe haven' in the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum. (More background, including media coverage: www.peoplescommission.org/abdelrazik.php.)
Project Fly Home
In March 2009, in a mass civil disobedience action, over one hundred people joined together to buy a plane ticket home for Abousfian Abdelrazik, even though the Canadian government made it a federal offence to directly or indirectly finance or collect money to support Mr. Abdelrazik.
The group of contributors to the ticket, now almost 150 people, stretches from Vancouver to Iqaluit to Newfoundland and reflects the groundswell of support for Mr. Abdelrazik and popular outrage and disgust at the treatment of him. Contributors include farmers, law professors, labour union representatives, artists, filmmakers, lawyers, workers, doctors, former Cabinet ministers, grandmothers, students and more. To date, the government has not decided whether or not it will charge the group.
* See list of contributors at www.peoplescommission.org/files/abousfianMedia/FinalList.pdf.
* Video and audio from press conference announcing that the ticket was bought will be posted shortly at www.peoplescommission.org/abdelrazik.php.
* Open letter from James Loney (one of the contributors) to the MP in his riding: www.peoplescommission.org/files/abousfianMedia/JamesLoneyLetter.pdf
The plane ticket strips away another excuse the government has used to prevent Abousfian Abdelrazik from returning home. In December, the government stated in a letter to Mr. Abdelrazik's lawyer that he must present a fully-paid-for plane ticket before Passport Canada would agree to issue an emergency passport. Mr. Abdelrazik's passport expired while he was in prison in Sudan. The flight leaves Khartoum on April 3rd. An emergency passport can take less than 24-hours to issue. The government was given three weeks to issue the passport.
How you can help
1. In order to ensure Mr. Abdelrazik's safe return to Canada, Project Fly Home is seeking public endorsements from organizations across Canada. Please send all endorsements to projectflyhome@gmail.com. Endorsers will be listed as "organizations supporting the public campaign to bring Abousfian Abdelrazik home to Canada".
2. Join the list of people who have contributed to the return flight at the risk of being criminally charged for collecting money to support Mr. Abdelrazik. Although the ticket is already purchased, additional contributions are being accepted and names will be added to the list of contributors: the money raised will pay for other campaign expenses and the remainder will be offered to Mr. Abdelrazik when he returns to Canada, as a tiny, symbolic reparation for the crimes and injustices that have been committed against him. To join, email projectflyhome@gmail.com.
3. Please send brief letters of solidarity to Mr. Abdelrazik at projectflyhome@gmail.com. These letters will be read to him in Khartoum.
Project Fly Home
www.peoplescommission.org/abdelrazik.php
projectflyhome@gmail.com
Abousfian Abdelrazik is a Montreal man whose name may take its place among a growing list of victims of a Canadian version of 'extraordinary rendition'.
Internal government memos and other documents released under the Privacy Act reveal that, like Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati and Muayyed Nureddin - all imprisoned and tortured in Syria on the request of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the RCMP, as confirmed by the federal Iacobucci Inquiry - Mr. Abdelrazik was also jailed on the recommendation of CSIS, while on a visit to Sudan. In prison, he was beaten and tortured. In this horrific context, he was interrogated by CSIS officials complicit in his arrest.
Eventually released and cleared of all suspicion by Sudan, as well as the RCMP and CSIS, his many attempts to return home to Montreal have been blocked rather than aided by Canadian officials. Since the story became public in late April 2008, Mr. Abdelrazik has been living in 'temporary safe haven' in the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum. (More background, including media coverage: www.peoplescommission.org/abdelrazik.php.)
Project Fly Home
In March 2009, in a mass civil disobedience action, over one hundred people joined together to buy a plane ticket home for Abousfian Abdelrazik, even though the Canadian government made it a federal offence to directly or indirectly finance or collect money to support Mr. Abdelrazik.
The group of contributors to the ticket, now almost 150 people, stretches from Vancouver to Iqaluit to Newfoundland and reflects the groundswell of support for Mr. Abdelrazik and popular outrage and disgust at the treatment of him. Contributors include farmers, law professors, labour union representatives, artists, filmmakers, lawyers, workers, doctors, former Cabinet ministers, grandmothers, students and more. To date, the government has not decided whether or not it will charge the group.
* See list of contributors at www.peoplescommission.org/files/abousfianMedia/FinalList.pdf.
* Video and audio from press conference announcing that the ticket was bought will be posted shortly at www.peoplescommission.org/abdelrazik.php.
* Open letter from James Loney (one of the contributors) to the MP in his riding: www.peoplescommission.org/files/abousfianMedia/JamesLoneyLetter.pdf
The plane ticket strips away another excuse the government has used to prevent Abousfian Abdelrazik from returning home. In December, the government stated in a letter to Mr. Abdelrazik's lawyer that he must present a fully-paid-for plane ticket before Passport Canada would agree to issue an emergency passport. Mr. Abdelrazik's passport expired while he was in prison in Sudan. The flight leaves Khartoum on April 3rd. An emergency passport can take less than 24-hours to issue. The government was given three weeks to issue the passport.
How you can help
1. In order to ensure Mr. Abdelrazik's safe return to Canada, Project Fly Home is seeking public endorsements from organizations across Canada. Please send all endorsements to projectflyhome@gmail.com. Endorsers will be listed as "organizations supporting the public campaign to bring Abousfian Abdelrazik home to Canada".
2. Join the list of people who have contributed to the return flight at the risk of being criminally charged for collecting money to support Mr. Abdelrazik. Although the ticket is already purchased, additional contributions are being accepted and names will be added to the list of contributors: the money raised will pay for other campaign expenses and the remainder will be offered to Mr. Abdelrazik when he returns to Canada, as a tiny, symbolic reparation for the crimes and injustices that have been committed against him. To join, email projectflyhome@gmail.com.
3. Please send brief letters of solidarity to Mr. Abdelrazik at projectflyhome@gmail.com. These letters will be read to him in Khartoum.
Project Fly Home
www.peoplescommission.org/abdelrazik.php
projectflyhome@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Public Lecture: The Politics of Migrant “Illegality” in Canada: Issues in Research and Organizing
By: Cynthia Wright (York University)
March 18, 5:30 pm
2017 Dunton Tower
Carleton University
Cynthia teaches in the School of Women’s Studies at York University. A long-time activist, she is the author of “Against Illegality: New Directions in Organizing by and with Non-Status People in Canada” (2006) and of “From ‘Managed Migration’ to a Politics of No Borders,” (2008) among other articles and reviews. With Bridget Anderson and Nandita Sharma, she is guest-editing a special issue of Refuge on the politics of no borders.
Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Program, Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies (IIS), and the Pauline Jewett Institute of Women’s and Gender Studies.
March 18, 5:30 pm
2017 Dunton Tower
Carleton University
Cynthia teaches in the School of Women’s Studies at York University. A long-time activist, she is the author of “Against Illegality: New Directions in Organizing by and with Non-Status People in Canada” (2006) and of “From ‘Managed Migration’ to a Politics of No Borders,” (2008) among other articles and reviews. With Bridget Anderson and Nandita Sharma, she is guest-editing a special issue of Refuge on the politics of no borders.
Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Program, Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies (IIS), and the Pauline Jewett Institute of Women’s and Gender Studies.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
SHIFT IN IMMIGRATION POLICY IS SHORT-SIGHTED, UNFAIR AND RACIST
New Report Says That Shift in Canadian Immigration Policy based on the Live-in Caregiver Program Will Lead to US-Style System That is Unfair and Racist
See the full report here.
No One is Illegal has just released a report showing that Canada is headed toward a US-style system dependent on temporary migrant workers that is both unfair and racist. The document prepared by independent researcher Salimah Valiani demonstrates that Canada's re-shaped immigration system will not lead to building citizenship and labour supply in Canada.
The report, using Government of Canada data to estimate the retention rate of migrant workers under the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), shows that though Canada brought-in growing numbers of migrant live-in caregivers from 2003-2007, the likelihood of these workers attaining permanent resident status fell each year. The LCP is the longest standing immigration program offering the possibility of permanent residency to temporary migrant workers.
Despite Canada's long-term needs to build citizenship and the labour force, government has moved to a system based on temporary migration instead of permanent residency for internationally-trained workers. "This is alarming for a population-hungry country built on a history of permanent residency and the promise of human rights for all," states Valiani.
Given that recent changes to the Canadian immigration system are modeled on the LCP, No One is Illegal urges opposition parties to press for discussion of the report’s findings in parliament and across the country.
No One is Illegal is a grassroots anti-colonial immigrant and refugee rights collective. No One is Illegal campaigns to attain concrete victories for immigrants and refugees and to develop the communities' own capacity to attain justice and dignity for themselves and their families
Valiani will present her findings at No One is Illegal's International Women's Day event, March 8, 2pm, at Jack Purcell Community Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lane (wheelchair accessible and daycare available; contact noiiottawa@gmail.com)
For media enquiries please contact Salimah Valiani at 613.314.6667.
The full report is available here.
See the full report here.
No One is Illegal has just released a report showing that Canada is headed toward a US-style system dependent on temporary migrant workers that is both unfair and racist. The document prepared by independent researcher Salimah Valiani demonstrates that Canada's re-shaped immigration system will not lead to building citizenship and labour supply in Canada.
The report, using Government of Canada data to estimate the retention rate of migrant workers under the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), shows that though Canada brought-in growing numbers of migrant live-in caregivers from 2003-2007, the likelihood of these workers attaining permanent resident status fell each year. The LCP is the longest standing immigration program offering the possibility of permanent residency to temporary migrant workers.
Despite Canada's long-term needs to build citizenship and the labour force, government has moved to a system based on temporary migration instead of permanent residency for internationally-trained workers. "This is alarming for a population-hungry country built on a history of permanent residency and the promise of human rights for all," states Valiani.
Given that recent changes to the Canadian immigration system are modeled on the LCP, No One is Illegal urges opposition parties to press for discussion of the report’s findings in parliament and across the country.
No One is Illegal is a grassroots anti-colonial immigrant and refugee rights collective. No One is Illegal campaigns to attain concrete victories for immigrants and refugees and to develop the communities' own capacity to attain justice and dignity for themselves and their families
Valiani will present her findings at No One is Illegal's International Women's Day event, March 8, 2pm, at Jack Purcell Community Centre, 320 Jack Purcell Lane (wheelchair accessible and daycare available; contact noiiottawa@gmail.com)
For media enquiries please contact Salimah Valiani at 613.314.6667.
The full report is available here.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Register for NOII Training Workshop
On October 25, 2008, NOII Ottawa will be having its first organizational training. The training will be led by No One is Illegal Toronto. Representatives of NOII Toronto will be speaking about their experiences in organizing for their widely successful 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' campaign in Toronto, as well as giving some training/holding a strategy session on immigration/refugee issues.
No One is Illegal is pleased to invite organizations and individuals who are active in organizing around these issues, or those who want to get more involved, to join us in our organizational training. We would encourage you to register before October 22nd below. We welcome all donations to cover the cost of the training.
Schedule--> October 25th, 2008, Interpares, 221 Laurier Avenue East
10am-10:30am- Intros and Welcome
10:30am-12pm- Don't Ask, Don't Tell session
12pm-1pm- Lunch
1pm-3pm- Strategy session
**
Le 25 octobre, 2008, Personne n'est illégal Ottawa aura sa première formation organisationelle. La formation sera menée par Personne n'est illégal Toronto. Pendant la formation, des représentant-e-s de Personne n'est illégal Toronto parleront de leurs expériences avec l'organisation de la campagne 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' à Toronto, en plus d'offrir une formation sur les enjeux autour de la migration.
Personne n'est illégal Ottawa invite les organisations et individus qui organisent dans le contexte de ces enjeux ou ceux et celles qui veulent être impliqués de nous joindre sur cette journée de formation. Nous vous encourageons de vous inscrire avant le 22 octobre ci-dessous. Nous acceptons toutes les contributions en vue de défrayer les coûts de la formation.
Horaire--> 25 octobre, 2008, Interpares, 221 ave. Laurier est
10h00-10h30 Introductions et Bienvenue
10h30- 12h00 Session I: La campagne 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
12h00-13h00 Dîner
13h00-15h00 Session II: Stratégie
La traduction anglais-français sera disponible à la formation.
No One is Illegal is pleased to invite organizations and individuals who are active in organizing around these issues, or those who want to get more involved, to join us in our organizational training. We would encourage you to register before October 22nd below. We welcome all donations to cover the cost of the training.
Schedule--> October 25th, 2008, Interpares, 221 Laurier Avenue East
10am-10:30am- Intros and Welcome
10:30am-12pm- Don't Ask, Don't Tell session
12pm-1pm- Lunch
1pm-3pm- Strategy session
**
Le 25 octobre, 2008, Personne n'est illégal Ottawa aura sa première formation organisationelle. La formation sera menée par Personne n'est illégal Toronto. Pendant la formation, des représentant-e-s de Personne n'est illégal Toronto parleront de leurs expériences avec l'organisation de la campagne 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' à Toronto, en plus d'offrir une formation sur les enjeux autour de la migration.
Personne n'est illégal Ottawa invite les organisations et individus qui organisent dans le contexte de ces enjeux ou ceux et celles qui veulent être impliqués de nous joindre sur cette journée de formation. Nous vous encourageons de vous inscrire avant le 22 octobre ci-dessous. Nous acceptons toutes les contributions en vue de défrayer les coûts de la formation.
Horaire--> 25 octobre, 2008, Interpares, 221 ave. Laurier est
10h00-10h30 Introductions et Bienvenue
10h30- 12h00 Session I: La campagne 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
12h00-13h00 Dîner
13h00-15h00 Session II: Stratégie
La traduction anglais-français sera disponible à la formation.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Migrant workers fired from B.C. greenhouse as union vote neared
Migrant workers fired from B.C. greenhouse as union vote neared
Fourteen Mexican farm workers employed at an Abbotsford greenhouse were fired from their jobs and sent back to Mexico days before a union-certification vote, the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada said yesterday.
The workers were terminated late in the day on Sept. 5, a Friday, before being driven to the airport the next day in time to catch an afternoon flight to Mexico, the union said.
On Sept. 4, the UFCW had filed an application to represent 29 employees at the company, Floralia Plant Growers Ltd.
Workers were scheduled to hold a certification vote today.
A woman who answered the phone at the company late yesterday afternoon said in response to questions, "I can't tell you anything" before hanging up.
The union has filed a complaint with the British Columbia Labour Relations Board and asked the board to order the company to rehire the workers and pay for their flights back to Canada, said Local 1518 spokesman Andy Neufeld.
"We are currently before the labour board on this," Mr. Neufeld said, adding that the union believes the workers were sent back to Mexico in retaliation for union activities.
Hearings are scheduled for this week.
The UFCW has spent years trying to unionize migrant farm workers in Canada and last month, successfully signed up migrant workers at Greenway Farms Ltd. in Surrey.
That certification was the first for migrant workers in B.C., which in 2004 began hiring under the federal Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program.
That program, started in the 1970s in Eastern Canada, was introduced to B.C. at the urging of agricultural producers who said they had difficulty finding enough help in the domestic market.
Under the terms of the SAWP, foreign workers are supposed to receive wages commensurate with those of Canadians, employer-paid international transportation, and health and medical benefits, as well as the same labour protection under the law as Canadians.
A June study of B.C. farm workers by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Simon Fraser University found farm workers are routinely exposed to pesticides and other chemicals; immigrant workers are regularly transported by farm labour contractors in vans that violate safety regulations; and health and safety standards are routinely violated, for example, by employers failing to provide adequate washroom facilities or water for hand-washing.
The union said the labour board has issued summonses for Floralia workers to appear before the board and taken steps to help the employees understand their rights.
WENDY STUECK VANCOUVER
Fourteen Mexican farm workers employed at an Abbotsford greenhouse were fired from their jobs and sent back to Mexico days before a union-certification vote, the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada said yesterday.
The workers were terminated late in the day on Sept. 5, a Friday, before being driven to the airport the next day in time to catch an afternoon flight to Mexico, the union said.
On Sept. 4, the UFCW had filed an application to represent 29 employees at the company, Floralia Plant Growers Ltd.
Workers were scheduled to hold a certification vote today.
A woman who answered the phone at the company late yesterday afternoon said in response to questions, "I can't tell you anything" before hanging up.
The union has filed a complaint with the British Columbia Labour Relations Board and asked the board to order the company to rehire the workers and pay for their flights back to Canada, said Local 1518 spokesman Andy Neufeld.
"We are currently before the labour board on this," Mr. Neufeld said, adding that the union believes the workers were sent back to Mexico in retaliation for union activities.
Hearings are scheduled for this week.
The UFCW has spent years trying to unionize migrant farm workers in Canada and last month, successfully signed up migrant workers at Greenway Farms Ltd. in Surrey.
That certification was the first for migrant workers in B.C., which in 2004 began hiring under the federal Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program.
That program, started in the 1970s in Eastern Canada, was introduced to B.C. at the urging of agricultural producers who said they had difficulty finding enough help in the domestic market.
Under the terms of the SAWP, foreign workers are supposed to receive wages commensurate with those of Canadians, employer-paid international transportation, and health and medical benefits, as well as the same labour protection under the law as Canadians.
A June study of B.C. farm workers by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Simon Fraser University found farm workers are routinely exposed to pesticides and other chemicals; immigrant workers are regularly transported by farm labour contractors in vans that violate safety regulations; and health and safety standards are routinely violated, for example, by employers failing to provide adequate washroom facilities or water for hand-washing.
The union said the labour board has issued summonses for Floralia workers to appear before the board and taken steps to help the employees understand their rights.
WENDY STUECK VANCOUVER
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Continuous Journey Film Night
No One Is Illegal - Ottawa is pleased to invite you to the screening of...
Continuous Journey
an award winning documentary feature by Ali Kazimi
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
Doors at 7 pm. Film starts at 7:30 pm.
Umi Cafe
610 Somerset W, at Percy
Suggested Donation $5
(nobody is turned away!)
"In 1914, the Komagata Maru, a ship carrying 376 immigrants from British India, was turned away by Canada. The consequences were felt throughout the British Empire. Continuous Journey is a compelling and eye-opening investigation into the past and present ramifications of this incident. More than history film, Continuous Journey is a provocative, moving, and multilayered essay that interweaves photographs, newsreels, home movies and official documents to unravel a complex and little-known story."
For more information: contact noiiottawa@gmail.com
http://www.noii-ottawa.blogspot.com
http://www.socialdoc.net/kazimi/
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