01/30/2017
URGENT PLEASE: WRITE OR CALL YOUR MP. IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE US, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT TODAY AND TOMORROW - YOU CAN HAVE A VOICE. TEXT BELOW TO CUT AND COPY.
As a criminal lawyer, I know what happens when civil liberties are taken away and a strong electorate doesn't push back. If you are concerned, I urge you to take direct action. History doesn't end well when concerned citizens do nothing.
Jenny Kwan, MP, has called for an emergency debate in the House tomorrow with regard to the Executive Order from Friday. It's crucial because there is one big thing that can be done IMMEDIATELY:
lifting the Safe Third Countries Act from 2004. That prevents refugees who present themselves at a land border of what Canada considers a "safe" country - ie the US - from applying for refugee status in Canada. The reasoning is that if you're already in the US, you're safe, so why should you be able to apply there to get in here. Right now, at this moment in history, this logic doesn't work. The people being detained at US airports could immediately make a refugee claim to Canada and couldn't be held or turned around (some of whom face death for leaving certain countries).
You can find your Member of Parliament here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members
Here is the text of what I have sent them.. PLEASE CUT, COPY, PASTE, SHARE however you would like.
TEXT OF A LETTER YOU CAN SEND.
Dear (MP),
I am your constituent. My postal code is (......)
I am a concerned Canadian responding to today's US ban on our Muslim neighbours. My first instinct was that as Canadians, we should open our doors even wider and expedite visa and refugee applications from the seven countries affected by the ban.
However, it has come to my attention that this effort would be made largely impossible due to the Safe Third Country Agreement, which has banned Canadian applications from refugees who have traveled through or in the USA since 2004.
There is immediate action we can take:
1. The Honourable PM Justin Trudeau can explicitly comment on the appalling nature of the executive order issued by President Trump. I understand the ramifications will be deep to trade and to ongoing arrangements, but I also understand that those ramifications are coming anyway. I ask you to urge PM to do so with the understanding that the electorate understands what is at risk;
2. Your government must lift the current cap on private sponsored refugees. There is no reason that those of our citizenry willing to support other human beings for a full year after they’ve been vetted by the UNHCR should be subject to arbitrary limits.
3. Thirdly, after clearance, PM Trudeau must offer status to those left stranded by Trump's executive order. These are people who have been through years of checks and vetting. There is no reason to refuse them here, especially those who hold green cards; and
4. Our country must revoke the Safe Third Country Agreement, allowing refugees status at our land borders.
I am writing to urge you to advocate for our current government to revoke this agreement immediately. Our obligations to refugees, and specifically Muslims, will only increase daily as our American and global neighbours suffer the effects of Trump's racist executive orders. Canada can and must work to offer refuge to both American Muslims and Muslims abroad at once.
As a (***), I grow astonishingly fearful watching history repeat itself once again. It is our responsibility - and the duty of the government that represents us - to prevent this from happening by any means necessary, and to fulfill this most basic of obligations to our Muslim friends and family, or anyone fleeing violence and hunger and fear.
As leaders to the south prepare a wall, I can see no other way for us to respond than to open many, many doors. Please be on the right side of history on this. Words from my prime minister, as important as they are, are not enough. Only action can truly denounce this dictator, this despot, and protect all people. We have a responsibility as those who have food and shelter to feed and clothe and house those that do not. I ask you to extend those principles I believe that the justice system of Canada stands for – fairness under the law, social services, a better life – to scared women and children, who are the majority of refugees.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
YOUR POSTAL CODE
Current Members of Parliament
