Citizenship and Immigration committee  You know, my family came to Canada a number of generations ago. They were economic refugees from Europe. In terms of the reunification of the family, one member got here and then facilitated the arrival of others. Family reunification, helping families come together and contrib

Citizenship and Immigration committee  In the first kind of case that we identified, as our volunteers tell us, we know of two situations here in the city of Ottawa, with the refugees we work with, where, if Bill C-31 were enacted and applied retroactively, individuals and their families would have their status jeopar

Citizenship and Immigration committee  We cannot assume that those who have escaped persecution in the past by becoming refugees and later permanent residents in Canada would not face retribution, scorn, or persecution in their country of origin if they were turned away from their country of adoption: Canada.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Chair, members of the community, it's been an honour to be here this afternoon. Thank you.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Sir, thank you for the opportunity to be here this afternoon. It's a privilege to be able to engage on this issue and to be here with you in the committee this afternoon. Within the Anglican Church and within the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, which is the regional expression of ou

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Of particular concern and what actually drives us to come and be present here this afternoon is clause 19 of the proposed legislation. Clause 19 has the potential to place legitimate refugees in jeopardy of losing their permanent residency status and of their removal from Canad

Citizenship and Immigration committee  But we believe the most threatening aspect of clause 19 is the potential, through the principle of cessation, for this potential law to be applied retroactively, including in situations where people have acted in good faith and within the current law since arrival in Canada, but