Citizenship and Immigration committee  Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Our committee agrees with your committee’s decision to examine the security certificate and conditions of detention. The objective of the Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee is to obtain justice f

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No, this is not the first time we have come to Ottawa. Since 2002, I believe the families have met in Ottawa at least five times for lobbying campaigns. I myself am a resident of the Gatineau area. Mohamed Harkat was a resident of Vanier in Ottawa. Most of us have appeared befo

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Are you referring to action on the part of the Canadian government?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Aside from the construction of the Kingston Immigration Holding Centre at the Millhaven Penitentiary, which was a way of giving in to public pressure, nothing concrete has been done to release these five people, who are victims of allegations and have been targeted by security ce

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Security certificates are a democratic, non-partisan issue that involves defending human rights and the rights of all. It is extremely surprising that the political parties in the House have not yet come to the conclusion that security certificates must be revoked and that none o

Citizenship and Immigration committee  We have addressed at least two committees.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes, that’s a good description of how it works.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I do believe it exists. First, contrary to what is stated in certain documents, security certificates existed before 1991. So there is a whole series of other cases that have either been forgotten or remain unknown. But the main argument is that security certificates truly revea

Citizenship and Immigration committee  What we’re really waiting for are not questions from the government or political parties, but rather an announcement on when these human rights violations will end. The problem with respect to each of these issues is that security certificates and immigration policies come from t

Public Safety committee  Good morning. My name is Christian Legeais and I am a spokesperson for the Justice for Mohamed Harkat Committee. My comments on Bill C-3 will follow Mr. Harkat's statement explaining the consequences of the security certificate process for himself and his family, as well as what

Public Safety committee  As regards Bill C-3, our Committee sees it as an attempt on the part of the government to leave the impression that these changes to the security certificate process will make it fairer and consistent with modern standards of law enforcement and fundamental justice. In the guise

Public Safety committee  The best way to improve the security certificate process would be to ensure that it is consistent with fundamental justice and international standards of justice. That is the first change that needs to be made. But, Bill C-3 does not do that. I am having some difficulty answerin

Public Safety committee  At this point in time, I don't believe there is a balance between those rights. National security reasons take considerable precedence over Charter considerations, human rights considerations and respect for rights in Canada. Under the guise of national security, anything goes. A

Public Safety committee  You talk about the independence of the courts. Judges are independent, according to the law. But I believe that the question you are really raising has to do with how to protect Canada from terrorism. In my opinion, that discussion cannot occur in the context of immigration legis

Public Safety committee  Yes, but I can cite another case. Let's take Mr. Jaballah, for example. Two days ago, the Canadian Border Services Agency…