DOCSLIB.ORG

Legislative Summary of Bill C-51: an Act to Amend the Criminal Code and the Department of Justice Act and to Make Consequential Amendments to Another Act

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Legislative Summary of Bill C-51: an Act to Amend the Criminal Code and the Department of Justice Act and to Make Consequential Amendments to Another Act Bill C-51: An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Department of Justice Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act Publication No. 42-1-C51-E 1 October 2018 Revised 18 December 2018 Lyne Casavant Maxime Charron-Tousignant Robin MacKay Julia Nicol Erin Shaw Legal and Social Affairs Division Parliamentary Information and Research Service Library of Parliament Legislative Summaries summarize government bills currently before Parliament and provide background about them in an objective and impartial manner. They are prepared by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service, which carries out research for and provides information and analysis to parliamentarians and Senate and House of Commons committees and parliamentary associations. Legislative Summaries are revised as needed to reflect amendments made to bills as they move through the legislative process. Notice: For clarity of exposition, the legislative proposals set out in the bill described in this Legislative Summary are stated as if they had already been adopted or were in force. It is important to note, however, that bills may be amended during their consideration by the House of Commons and Senate, and have no force or effect unless and until they are passed by both houses of Parliament, receive Royal Assent, and come into force. Any substantive changes in this Legislative Summary that have been made since the preceding issue are indicated in bold print. © Library of Parliament, Ottawa, Canada, 2018 Legislative Summary of Bill C-51 (Legislative Summary) Publication No. 42-1-C51-E Ce document est également publié en français. CONTENTS 1 BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................... 1 2 DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS .............................................................................. 2 2.1 Amendments to the Criminal Code: Unconstitutional, Obsolete or Redundant Provisions ............................................................................................................... 2 2.1.1 Reverse Onus Provisions (Clauses 5 to 7, 9, 14, 18, 26, 27, 29, 32, 34 to 38, 43, 45, 46, 48, 49, 51, 55 to 60, 62, 67, 68 and 69 to 72) ..................................... 3 2.1.1.1 Evidentiary Presumptions (Clauses 16 and 39) ................................................................................... 6 2.1.2 Other Unconstitutional Provisions ................................................................... 6 2.1.2.1 Supplying Noxious Things (Clause 28) ................................................................................................. 6 2.1.2.2 Publishing a Defamatory Libel (Clause 31) ................................................................................................. 6 2.1.2.3 Evidence and Evidence of Previous Conviction (Clause 40) ................................................................................................. 7 2.1.2.4 Pre-sentence Custody (Clause 66) ................................................................................................. 7 2.1.3 Redundant or Obsolete Provisions .................................................................. 8 2.1.3.1 Acts Intended to Alarm Her Majesty or Break Public Peace (Clauses 1, 2, 63 and 65) ........................................................................... 8 2.1.3.2 Duelling (Clause 4) ................................................................................................... 8 2.1.3.3 Advertising Reward and Immunity (Clause 8) ................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3.4 Corrupting Morals and Tied Sales (Clauses 11 to 13) ...................................................................................... 9 2.1.3.5 Obstructing or Violence to or Arrest of Officiating Clergyman (Clauses 13.1 to 14) ................................................................................... 9 2.1.3.6 Blasphemous Libel (Clauses 30 and 64) ................................................................................. 10 2.1.3.7 Pretending to Practise Witchcraft (Clause 41) ............................................................................................... 10 2.1.3.8 Counterfeit Proclamation and Message in False Name (Clause 42) ............................................................................................... 10 2.1.3.9 Trader Failing to Keep Accounts (Clause 44) ............................................................................................... 11 2.1.3.10 Personation at Examination (Clause 46) ............................................................................................... 11 2.1.3.11 Falsely Claiming Royal Warrant (Clause 47) ............................................................................................... 11 LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT i PUBLICATION NO. 42-1-C51-E 2.1.3.12 Issuing Trading Stamps (Clauses 43.1 and 50) .............................................................................. 12 2.1.3.13 Injuring or Endangering Animals (Clauses 52 to 54) .................................................................................... 12 2.2 Amendments to the Criminal Code: The Law of Sexual Offences ................................................................................ 12 2.2.1 The Evolution of Sexual Offence Law in Canada .......................................... 12 2.2.1.1 Major Legislative Reforms ........................................................................ 12 2.2.1.2 Constitutional Litigation Related to Sexual Offences ............................... 14 2.2.2 Provisions Dealing with Consent ................................................................... 14 2.2.2.1 The Supreme Court of Canada’s Decision in R. v. J.A. ........................... 16 2.2.2.2 Changes to Consent Provisions (Clauses 10, 19 and 20) ........................................................................... 17 2.2.3 Rape Shield Provisions ................................................................................. 19 2.2.3.1 Admissibility of Sexual Activity Evidence (Clause 21) ............................................................................................... 20 2.2.3.2 Admissibility Applications and Hearings for Sexual Activity Evidence (Clauses 22, 23 and 25) ........................................................................... 21 2.2.4 Third-Party Records Applications .................................................................. 22 2.2.4.1 Extended Notice Period (Clause 24) ............................................................................................... 23 2.2.5 Private Records Relating to the Complainant in the Possession of the Accused ................................................................. 23 2.2.5.1 Definition of Record (Clause 23) ............................................................................................... 24 2.2.5.2 Admissibility of Private Records Relating to the Complainant in the Possession of the Accused (Clause 25) ............................................................................................... 24 2.2.5.3 Admissibility Applications and Hearings for Private Records Relating to the Complainant in the Possession of the Accused............................................................. 25 2.3 Amendment to the Department of Justice Act: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Statements ...................................... 26 2.3.1 New Requirement for Charter Statements (Clause 73) .................................................................................................... 28 LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT ii PUBLICATION NO. 42-1-C51-E LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY OF BILL C-51: AN ACT TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL CODE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ACT AND TO MAKE CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO ANOTHER ACT 1 BACKGROUND Bill C-51, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Department of Justice Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act,1 was introduced in the House of Commons by the Minister of Justice on 6 June 2017. Following second reading on 15 June 2017, the bill was referred to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which reported the bill back to the House of Commons with several amendments on 20 November 2017.2 The bill passed third reading in the House of Commons as amended on 11 December 2017. The bill received first reading in the Senate on 12 December 2017 and second reading on 10 May 2018, when it was referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs. That committee reported the bill back to the Senate on 25 September 2018 with no amendments but with an appended observation.3 At third reading, two amendments were adopted on 30 October 2018,4 before being rejected by the House of Commons on 10 December 2018. The Senate did not insist on its amendments, and the bill received Royal Assent on 13 December 2018. There are three aspects to Bill C-51. First, the bill amends the Criminal Code (Code)5 to modify or repeal provisions that have been ruled unconstitutional by the courts or that raise risks of being contrary to the provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter).6 It also amends or repeals Code provisions that could be considered obsolete and/or redundant. Second, Bill C-51 amends provisions in the Code relating to sexual offences. In particular, it sets out a procedure for determining the admissibility and use of the complainant’s records
Load more

Recommended publications
  • H. Archibald Kaiser, Professor Schulich School of Law and Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University
    H. Archibald Kaiser, Professor Schulich School of Law and Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University Outline of Presentation Glimpses of History Criminalization of Persons with Mental Health Problems Factors That Lead to Criminalization Justice System Dysfunctions The Statistics Reducing Criminalization: Investing in Supports and Services A Sample of Benchmarks and Aspirations The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The Mental Health Strategy for Canada The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health The Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project Strategies for Improving the Justice System As Well Diversion Services and Supports Upgrading Police Responses Dalhousie University Ambiguous Crossroads Professor Kaiser Schulich School of Law and Department of Psychiatry 2 Strategies for Improving the Justice System As Well (continued) Addressing Pretrial Issues Improving the Character of Intrusions on Liberty Threats to Human Rights: Reinvigorating Criminalization Erosion of the Social Safety Net More Punitive Approaches to Criminal Justice Policy Alternatives to Current Criminal Justice Policy Conclusion Dalhousie University Ambiguous Crossroads Professor Kaiser Schulich School of Law and Department of Psychiatry 3 Glimpses of History: Ancient Times Mental illness was often attributed to demonic possession or as punishment for sin, sometimes treated by priest-physicians There were harsh methods of dealing with people thought to have angered the gods Mental health problems were
    [Show full text]
  • Post D-Day (June 6, 2016) by Dianne Pothier Professor Emeritus Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University April 21, 2016
    Post D-Day (June 6, 2016) By Dianne Pothier Professor Emeritus Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University April 21, 2016 What happens, effective June 7, 2016, if no legislation has been passed by the federal Parliament to amend the Criminal Code respecting medical assistance in dying? Currently, the absolute criminal prohibition on physician-assisted death in Canada is in force (outside Quebec1) subject to an order of a superior court judge authorizing physician- assisted death in any particular case. This judicial authorization is an exception to the suspension of the declaration of invalidity which (outside Quebec) lasts until June 6, 2016 (Carter v Canada (Attorney General) 2016 SCC 4). After that date, if there is no amendment to the Criminal Code, the suspension, and the judicial authorization exception, come to an end, and the declaration of invalidity from Carter 2015 becomes generally effective. Section 241(b) and s. 14 of the Criminal Code unjustifiably infringe s. 7 of the Charter and are of no force or effect to the extent that they prohibit physician-assisted death for a competent adult person who (1) clearly consents to the termination of life and (2) has a grievous and irremediable medical condition (including an illness, disease or disability) that causes enduring suffering that is intolerable to the individual in the circumstances of his or her condition. (Carter v Canada (Attorney General), [2015] 1 SCR 331, paras. 127 and 147) The further stipulation in paragraph 127 that “The scope of this declaration is intended to respond to the factual circumstances in this case.
    [Show full text]
  • The Historical and Constitutional Context of the Proposed Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
    THE HISTORICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSED CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS WALTER S. TARNOPOLSKY* I INTRODUCTION As far back as 1967, when he was still Minister of Justice, Prime Minister Pierce Elliott Trudeau advocated changing the Canadian Bill of Rights by adop- tion of a constitutionally entrenched charter.' It should surprise no one, then, that just such a Charter of Rights and Freedoms constitutes the bulk of the proposed resolution which seeks one final amending Act by the United Kingdom Parliament of Canada's basic constitutional document-the British North America Act 2 (B.N.A. Act). The Charter of Rights and Freedoms possesses two qualities which radically distinguish it from its predecessor, the Canadian Bill of Rights. First, the Charter would be constitutionally entrenched. Endowed with constitutional authority, the rights and freedoms of the Charter would be superior to infringing legislation, which has not been exempted by means of a specifically enacted "notwithstand- ing" clause provided for in section 33 of the Charter, and subject to amendment only as a constitutional provision. Second, the Charter would apply equally to the provincial and Canadian federal governments. The purpose of this article is to provide the historical and constitutional con- text of the proposed Charter. Surveying the development of the judicial interpre- tations of the B.N.A. Act and the Canadian Bill of Rights, this article will attempt to bring into focus the major points of departure between the Charter and the Bill of Rights. At the same time, it is hoped that the value of these qualities of the Charter will become apparent as fundamental principles necessary to protect the civil liberties of Canadian citizens.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Toronto Program
    2018 TORONTO PROGRAM WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY COOLEY LAW SCHOOL ’S 19TH ANNUAL STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM MAY 17 – JUNE 29, 2018 (Revised 5-14-18; 6-4-18) Western Michigan University Cooley Law School is pleased to announce its 19th annual American Bar Association (ABA)-approved study abroad program in Toronto, Canada, during the summer of 2018. Law students will study and live in Toronto for either three or six weeks beginning May 17 and ending June 29. This program is offered in cooperation with the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. Nine international and comparative law courses will be taught by law professors, and Canadian jurists and barristers. THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM outstanding museums like the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the The WMU-Cooley foreign study program in Ontario Science Centre. Toronto has been approved by the American Bar Association’s Accreditation Committee of All classes will be conducted on the campus of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions The University of St. Michael’s College. The to the Bar. The program was re-inspected in program director’s office will be on campus June, 2012, receiving approval through 2019. too. St. Michael’s is located on the eastern Classes do not have prerequisites. Each course edge of the University of Toronto’s campus. It is conducted in English by law professors, is just a short walk from the shopping and Canadian attorneys or a jurist and meets the theatre amenities along Bloor and Yonge requirements of the ABA. Streets in the heart of downtown Toronto.
    [Show full text]
  • “Ambiguous Crossroads“: Persons with Mental Health Problems and the Criminal Justice System
    CANADIAN INSTITUTE INSTITUT CANADIEN FOR THE ADMINISTRATION D’ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE DE LA JUSTICE “Ambiguous Crossroads“: Persons with Mental Health Problems and the Criminal Justice System FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2013 Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia This conference is intended to bring together many of the actors responsible for ensuring equitable treatment for persons with mental health problems who come into contact with the criminal justice system. As many challenging cases have revealed and as the ratification by Canada of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities mandates, this is a time for change. Persons with lived experience and their advocates, police officers, lawyers and judges, among others, will collaborate to present and discuss the latest developments and pre- ferred practices at the often difficult intersection of criminal justice and mental health. The goals of the conference include updating attendees, fostering dis- cussion and enabling participants to emerge with better tools and firmer links to other justice, health and social service professionals and to the community. The program will include : Living in the Community This module will offer an overview of the history of the ways in which the • Defence Counsel will canvass: taking instructions from clients who are criminal justice system has responded to the needs of persons with mental experiencing mental health crises; establishing client service standards health problems and will scrutinize both contemporary reality and future for the mentally distressed client; strategic planning for the client with aspirations. mental health problems: NCR or other use of mental health evidence; A panel comprising persons with lived experience and representatives of effective counsel case law and obligations to the accused with mental the mental health and justice communities will review some of the major health problems; special issues in procedure and practice.
    [Show full text]
  • Supreme Court of Canada the Canadian Charter of Rights
    SUPREME COURT OF CANADA THE CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS AND CANADIAN SOCIETY Michel Bastarache, Supreme Court of Canada Zaragosa, Spain, June 7, 2007 I have been asked to speak about the important changes in Canadian society that were brought about by the adoption of the Canada Act of 1982. The amendment to the Constitution of that year is best known for adopting the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,1 or more simply, the Charter. Put simply, the Charter is an entrenched bill of rights, which as its title suggests, guarantees certain fundamental rights and freedoms to citizens and individuals. Its purpose is to prevent government, which in Canada includes the federal and provincial governments, from passing laws or acting in ways that violate those rights in a manner that cannot be justified in a free and democratic society. When a government does enact a law that unjustifiably violates one of the guarantees in the Charter, for example, by prohibiting public servants from speaking out in favour of a particular political party or a particular candidate,2 the courts have the power, and indeed the constitutional responsibility, to strike down the legislation. Similarly, when agents of the state, such as police officers, carry out unreasonable searches or seizures or when the law provides for cruel and unusual treatment or punishment on an individual, that individual is entitled to a remedy under the Charter. 1 Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (U.K.), c.11. 2 Osborne v. Canada (Treasury Board), [1991] 2 S.C.R.
    [Show full text]
  • Common Law Police Powers and the Rule of Law Steve Coughlan, Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law
    Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law From the SelectedWorks of Steve Coughlan 2007 Common Law Police Powers and the Rule of Law Steve Coughlan, Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law Available at: https://works.bepress.com/stephen-coughlan/8/ Common Law Police Powers and the Rule of Law Steve Coughlan* Common law police powers have long been a source of some dispute in the Canadian criminal justice system. On the one hand, their existence is difficult to reconcile with predictability in the law, since in any individual case where a new power is created (generally referred to as use of the "ancillary powers doc- trine"), it would not have been possible to know in advance that the police were actually acting legally. On the other hand the benefit for society purchased with that ambiguity is a more tailored response to the particular problem, which might also lead to better results in future cases. One can reasonably fall into a variety of places on the scale defined by the values of predictability and protec- tion of society. Recently, however, two trends can be observed in the use of common law police powers. Where at one point they were a rarity, and perhaps only served as a safety valve, more frequently today courts seems to regard the use of the ancil- lary powers doctrine as one of the tools always brought to the table. That trend reflects a movement toward the tailoring end and away from the predictability end of the spectrum. The second trend is more worrying. This trend reflects not merely a greater will- ingness to tailor the law for particular fact patterns, but a change in exactly what it means for the police to have a common law police power.
    [Show full text]
  • Print This Article
    Volume 16 (2019) | ISSN 1932-1821 (print) 1932-1996 (online) DOI 10.5195/taxreview.2019.97 | http://taxreview.law.pitt.edu FEMINIST STATUTORY INTERPRETATION Kim Brooks This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. This journal is published by the University Library System of the University of Pittsburgh as part of its D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program, and is cosponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Press. FEMINIST STATUTORY INTERPRETATION Kim Brooks* Leading Canadian scholar Ruth Sullivan describes the act of statutory interpretation as a mix of art and archeology.1 Feminist Judgments: Rewritten Tax Opinions affirms her assessment.2 If the act of statutory interpretation requires us to deploy our interdisciplinary talents, at least somewhat unmoored from the constraints of formal expressions of legal doctrine, why haven’t feminists been more inclined to write about statutory interpretation? Put another way, some scholars acknowledge that judges “are subtly influenced by preconceptions, endemic privilegings and power hierarchies, and prevailing social norms and ‘conventional’ wisdom.”3 Those influences become the background for how judges read legislation.4 Yet, there is surprisingly little literature about how feminists (or feminist decision- makers) do or could approach statutory interpretation projects.5 Feminist Judgments offers concrete illustrations of how feminists, charged with authoring feminist judgments, go about the work of statutory interpretation in tax law.6 The editors of the collection did not constrain the * Professor of Law, Purdy Crawford Chair in Business Law, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University. 1 RUTH SULLIVAN, STATUTORY INTERPRETATION 29 (3d ed.
    [Show full text]
  • 510-260 Merton St
    MOHAMED F. KHIMJI Faculty of Law, Queen’s University 128 Union Street Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 613.533.6000 x74282 [email protected] EDUCATION LL.M. 2003 London School of Economics and Political Science, with Distinction LL.B. 1999 University of Bristol, with Honours 2 : 1 ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2018-Present Director, Business Law Program, Faculty of Law, Queen’s University 2016-Present David Allgood Professor in Business Law, Faculty of Law, Queen’s University 2016-Present Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Queen’s University Fall 2018 Associate Research Scholar in Law, Yale Law School 2015-2016 Stephen Dattels Chair in Corporate Finance Law, Faculty of Law, Western University 2010-2016 Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Western University 2013-2014 Visiting Scholar, Department of Commercial Law, Faculty of Law, University of Valencia 2009-2010 Associate Professor, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University 2004-2009 Assistant Professor, Dalhousie Law School (now Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University) 2003-2004 Associate, Torys LLP, Toronto, ON 2001-2002 Student-at-Law, Torys LLP, Toronto, ON TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND AWARDS Courses Taught: Business Organizations, Commercial Law (Secured Transactions and Sales), Mergers & Acquisitions, Intermediated Securities, Shareholder Activism, Property 2019-2020 The Stanley M. Corbett Award for Excellence in Teaching, Faculty of Law, Queen’s University SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES 2021-Present Director and Member of Finance Committee, Prince Edward
    [Show full text]
  • Schulich School of Law Appointments 2021
    SCHULICH SCHOOL OF LAW DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY The Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, invites applications for two probationary tenure-track, tenure-track or tenured appointments at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, to commence July 1, 2022 in the areas of Torts; Business Law (broadly defined, but applicants should have an interest in teaching fundamental corporate and commercial law courses); Law and Technology (with complementary interests in intellectual property, cybersecurity, data protection, and related ethical and regulatory issues). We are especially interested in applications from scholars who have research and teaching interests in more than one of these areas and whose work would otherwise advance the Law School’s research and teaching priorities, including the work of our Marine and Environmental Law Institute and our Law and Technology Institute. Dalhousie University and the Schulich School of Law are committed to fostering a collegial culture grounded in diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage applications from Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, racially visible persons, women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit https://www.dal.ca/hringfordiversity. Applicants should have an outstanding academic record, a record of scholarly engagement, and demonstrated (or potential) teaching and research excellence. At the time of appointment, the successful candidate will hold an LL.B. or J.D. degree and is expected to have a relevant Master’s degree or a doctorate (completed or in progress). The deadline for applications is September 30, 2021. About the Schulich School of Law We are a vibrant, collegial, and close-knit community of faculty and students from around the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetic Non-Discrimination Act
    Does the Attorney General have a duty to defend her legislature’s statutes? A comment on the Reference Re Genetic Non-Discrimination Act A N D R E W FLAVELLE MARTIN * ABSTRACT The Reference Re Genetic Non-Discrimination Act was unusual because the Attorney General for Canada argued that federal legislation was unconstitutional. In this comment, I explore the implications of this choice for the role of the Attorney General and her relationship with Parliament. I argue that the Attorney General has a duty not to defend legislation, including legislation that began as a private member’s bill, that she reasonably believes to be unconstitutional – and that if Parliament wants to defend such legislation, it should do so itself instead of relying on the Attorney General. If Parliament does not do so, the Attorney General should support the appointment of amicus. However, where the Attorney General advises Parliament during the legislative process that a bill is unconstitutional, Parliament’s rejection of that advice is legally irrelevant and not wrongful. That rejection should nonetheless prompt the Attorney General to resign, if indeed she is the lawyer to the legislature. Keywords: Attorney General; Legislation; Parliament; Legislatures; Federalism * Of the Ontario Bar; Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University. Thanks to Elaine Craig for suggesting that I consider writing about this case and to Adam Dodek for comments on a draft. Special thanks to Bruce Ryder, Doug Mitchell, and Alexander Pless. Does the Attorney General Have a Duty to Defend221 INTRODUCTION oes the Attorney General have a duty to defend legislation passed by her respective legislature? For example, does the Attorney D General for Canada have a duty to defend Parliament’s legislation? To put it another way, is it ever appropriate for the Attorney General for Canada to concede or actively argue that federal legislation is unconstitutional? The Attorney General has a unique and multifaceted role, but some facets are underdeveloped in the case law and literature.
    [Show full text]
  • 31 January 2017 31 Janvier 2017 the Honourable Ahmed D. Hussen L'honorable Ahmed D. Hussen Minister of Immigration, Refugees
    31 January 2017 31 janvier 2017 The Honourable Ahmed D. Hussen L’Honorable Ahmed D. Hussen Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Ministre de l’Immigration, des Réfugiés et de la Citizenship Citoyenneté 365 Laurier Avenue West 365, avenue Laurier Ouest Ottawa, Ontario (K1A 1L1) Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 1L1 CC: c. c. The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau Le très honorable Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada Premier ministre du Canada The Honourable Serge Cormier L’Honorable Serge Cormier Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Secrétaire parlementaire du ministre de Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship l'Immigration, des Réfugiés et de la Citoyenneté Re: Suspending Safe Third Country Agreement Objet : Suspension de l’Entente sur les tiers pays sûrs Dear Minister Hussen / Cher Monsieur le Ministre Hussen, We, the undersigned law professors, call on the Canadian government to immediately suspend directing back refugee claimants at the Canada-US border under the Safe Third Country Agreement. Canada's immigration legislation indicates that, in determining whether a country should be designated as "safe" for refugees, consideration must be given to the country's human rights record and to whether the country complies with the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Convention against Torture. Executive orders issued by President Trump demonstrate that the US is not "safe" for refugees. These include a ban on Syrian refugees and a bar on entry of nationals of seven mostly Muslim countries. It is also evident that administration of the executive orders through border enforcement has been chaotic, inconsistent and arbitrary. This exposes refugees to yet more risk. Additional statements issued by the President also indicate that the US is not "safe", including his call for a ban on entry for all Muslims and his suggestion that he is open to considering the use of torture.
    [Show full text]