POPULAR ASSEMBLY

People's commission on immigration security measures
launch of Report and Follow-up Campaigns

Thursday, 1 February, 2007, at 6:30pm

3300 Crémazie East (métro St-Michel)

The PEOPLE'S COMMISSION on Immigration "Security" Measures held public hearings in Montreal from April 21-23, 2006. The nine Commissioners heard testimony from thirty individuals on the abuses which immigrants and refugees face in Canada in the name of "national security"; including racial profiling, denial of fair trials, use of secret evidence, indefinite and arbitrary detentions, labelling, and deportations to torture. Measures such as the 'security certificate' have raised broad concerns about expanding government powers of surveillance and control advancing under cover of the "war on terror". To view photo-essay of public hearings: http://gallery.cmaq.net/peoplescommission.

The PEOPLE's COMMISSION was launched in the lead up to the Supreme Court hearing on the constitutionality of security certificates, by grassroots organisations, to provide an alternative, popular forum for our communities to consider these issues, as they affect us, from the starting point of our own experiences of security.

An Executive Summary was released in June 2006, containing the Commissioners' findings and recommendations in the following areas: (1)National security, equality and racial profiling, (2) Due process, (3) Detention, and (4) Deportation. The Executive Summary made recommendations for government and for popular action.

The complete report will be launched at a POPULAR ASSEMBLY on 1 February 2007 at 3300 Crémazie East (St. Michel metro). The Popular Assembly will organise follow up on the recommendations as part of our growing struggle against immigration security measures and expanding government powers.

If you wish to participate in any stage of the development of these popular education materials, please email: abolissons@gmail.com.

For more information: www.peoplescommission.ath.cx or 514.859.9023.

REPORT: Non-citizens and national security

MEDIA ADVISORY
5 June 2006

What: Press conference to launch People's Commission on Immigration Security Measures recommendations on issues relating to the treatment of non-citizens in the name of national security.

The press conference will be followed at 2pm by a delegation to the office of Prime Minister Stephen Harper (80 Wellington St.) to deliver the recommendations.

When : Tuesday, 6 June 2006 at 10:30am

Where : Charles Lynch Room (Room 130-S), Central Building, Parliament Hill

Less than a week before the Supreme Court hears a constitutional challenge to the security certificate (13 to 15 June), the People's Commission on Immigration Security Measures is publishing a preliminary report outlining its recommendations relating to the treatment of non-citizens in the name of national security, including the security certificate process, detention, and deportation to torture.

This report is the result of a two-month People's Commission of inquiry. Three days of public hearings were held in Montreal from April 21-23 at which nine Commissioners heard dozens of testimonies from those affected by these measures as well as from experts. A first in Quebec, this People's Commission was launched to examine abuses against non-citizens in the name of national security and to formulate recommendations for change and action.

The Commissioner's recommendations are also based on hundreds of pages of documentation from legal experts and human rights organisations, as well as research reports and academic papers.

The transfer, on April 24th, of four of the five men under security certificates to “Guantanamo North” (the new prison at Kingston) as well as the draconian conditions under which a Federal

Court judge finally released Mohamed Harkat, after more than three years in arbitrary detention without accusation or trial, demonstrate the urgent need for a real public debate on the treatment of non-citizens on this stolen land. Even as this is written, the government has decided to appeal the decision to release Harkat and, inside Guantanamo North, Mohammad Mahjoub, Mahmoud Jaballah and Hassan Almrei have been on hunger-strike since 22 May.

For more information: tel. 514 222 0205 or 514 267 3701