Who Belongs?

Details: Published on Tuesday, 10 June 2014 11:40; Written by editor

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Who Belongs?

Citizenship, immigration, deportation, statelessness, and the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru. In this month's civil liberties update:

28,000 voices oppose Bill C-24
Meet our Liberty Awards winners and sponsors
New from the blogs: National Security Blog is back! Celebrating international day against homophobia and transphobia, and justice for Deepan

Equal Citizenship for All Canadians: No to C-24

In February the federal government tabled Bill C-24, introducing sweeping changes to Canada’s citizenship laws. This new law will turn Canadian citizenship law upside down, and shatter two of the key features of Canadian citizenship: permanence and equality.

This bill would make citizenship harder to get and easier to lose. It would allow citizenship stripping to be done by faceless bureaucrats rather than our court system, and it would revive the medieval practice of exile as a punishment. Learn more about the bill here.

Renowned Canadian author, and dual citizen, Lawrence Hill joined the BCCLA and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) in supporting our issuing a petition calling for the Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander to STOP Bill C-24. More than 28 000 people joined us.

Delivering 28,000 Voices

On June 3rd we delivered the 800+ page petition to the office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada in Vancouver. See photos on our Facebook page. Electronic copies were also delivered to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in Ottawa, and to critics in the opposition parties.

Bill C-24 passed third reading in the House of Commons last week, and is now being rushed through the Senate. We encourage you to share information about the Bill with those who may be impacted. Thanks to CARL, information on this bill is now available in several languages.

Meet the 2014 Liberty Awards Winners!

The Liberty Award winners will be honoured next Thursday, June 19, at the Liberty Awards Gala. A few tickets are left. Get your tickets here.

"The Liberty Award recipients are devoted in their own ways to the cause of protecting and expanding hard-won democratic rights and freedoms. Their principled, creative, and often courageous efforts to do right and seek justice are invaluable – and essential – to promoting a free society.” - BCCLA President, Lindsay Lyster

Reg Robson Award: Dr. Jennifer Wade

Excellence in the Arts: Franke James

Excellence in Youth Advocacy: Fraser Valley Youth Society

Excellence in Legal Advocacy- Individual: John Conroy, Q.C.

Excellence in Legal Advocacy- Firm: JFK Law Corporation

Unsung Hero Award: Dr. Muriel Groves

Meet our awardees here...

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Meet Our Presenting Sponsor: International Web exPress is guided by environmental sustainability, social responsibility and freedom of expression, International Web exPress is a printing house with a social conscience. With over 25 years in the printing business, owner and manager, Byron Sheardown, has a passion for the written word from journalism to poetry, and takes pride in providing exceptional value to his clients. Get to know International Web exPress.

We're so grateful to all the Liberty Awards sponsors. Meet them here.

From Our Blogs

The National Security Blog is Back!

Counsel Carmen Cheung returns to discuss secret courts, secret evidence, and the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru.

Read more here.

International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia

We're asking the Senate to support Bill C-279, the “Gender Identity Bill”, and to increase vigilance on LGBTQ+ discrimination worldwide.