[Bloquez l'empire!] 16 March: PUBLIC CONSULTATION for PEOPLE'S COMMISSION on Immigration "Security" Measures

[mfoster at web.ca]

PEOPLE'S COMMISSION on Immigration "Security" Measures

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Thursday, 16 March, 7pm
Atwater Library
1200 Atwater (corner Ste. Catherine; Atwater metro)

The PEOPLE'S COMMISSION is being launched to provide a means for our
communities to examine the issue of "security certificates" and other
immigration security policies in depth and identify ways to address the
problem. A series of Public Consultations is taking place across Quebec and
Canada in order to explain the project, seek public feedback, and encourage
broad participation in the Commission. Come out and join in!

with:
+screening of "Guilt certificate" (short film by Alexander Kozminski, Clic
Focus, 2005)
+Faraj Nakhleh, President, Canadian Arab Federation
+Marie-Eve Lamy and Tatiana Gomez
and more!

*translation (english, french, spanish, arabic) *snacks *childcare

BACKGROUND

Detained for years without charge, held under secret evidence, threatened
with deportation to torture. This is a situation in which immigrants and
refugees can find themselves in Canada. This is the nightmare which five men
and their families are currently living in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal
under the immigration "security certificate".

The ever-widening web of racist national security in the post 9/11 climate
has incarcerated, deported, and killed thousands of people as Western states
are waging a "war on terror" through militarization and occupation globally
and policies of restrictive immigration domestically. As increasing numbers
of people worldwide are forced to leave their homes in search of minimal
security, dignity and opportunity elsewhere, governments in North America
have responded with new measures which exclude or marginalise many of those
who arrive on these stolen shores. At its most extreme, the national
security agenda is making arbitrary detention, extraordinary rendition and
secret and not-so-secret torture prisons seem normal, or at least up for
debate.

In Canada, security measures in the immigration regime have emerged as a
battle-front in the ongoing struggle of migrants and non-Europeans for
equality in Canada and in the fight against expanding government powers of
surveillance and control advancing under cover of the "war on terror". Under
immigration security measures, non-citizens are denied their rights to a
fair trial, to protection from arbitrary detention and to protection from
torture. Security certificates and similar policies raise serious questions
about how the principles of equality, liberty, presumption of innocence and
security of the person are practised in Canada. They increase the power of
government officials over individuals. They raise important questions about
the future direction of our society.

The PEOPLE's COMMISSION will provide a forum for popular voices to be heard
on this issue, especially the voices of people directly and indirectly
affected by these measures, and of people whose security concerns have more
to do with getting by than with undefined "national security". The names of
the Commissioners will be announced on 28 March 2006. The Commissioners will
study existing reports, gather information, conduct interviews, review new
submissions and also hear testimonies at three days of accessible, open
Public Hearings (21 to 23 April 2006, at 2515 Delisle St., Montreal). All
material under review will be published on our website (though witness
confidentiality will be respected). A report giving the findings and
recommendations of the Commission will be published in mid-May and
distributed as widely as possible.

The PEOPLE'S COMMISSION would like your input! Come out to the Public
Consultation or contact us to find out the various ways you can contribute
to the findings of the Commission.

-------------------------
abolissons at gmail.com
tel 1 514 859 9023

The People's Commission is a project of the Coalition for Justice for Adil
Charkaoui (www.adilinfo.org)
and Solidarity Across Borders (www.solidarityacrossborders.org).

The People's Commission has been endorsed by: Warren Allmand, Black
Coalition of Quebec, Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada, CAIR-CAN,
Canadian Arab Federation (CAF), Canadian Council for Refugees, Canadian
Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Immigrant Worker Centre, Muslim Council of
Montreal, No one is illegal - Montreal, No one is illegal-Toronto, No one is
illegal -Vancouver, Ontario Coaliton against Poverty (OCAP), Souers
Auxiliatrices, the South Asian Women's Community Centre, Toronto Action for
Social Change.

Sponsored by: CKUT 90.3 FM, Inter Pares, les Soeurs Auxiliatrices