PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Thursday, 16 March, 7 pm
Atwater Library
1200 Atwater (corner Ste. Catherine; Atwater metro)

The PEOPLE'S COMMISSION is being launched to provide a means for our communities to examine the issue of "security certificates" and other immigration security policies in depth and identify ways to address the problem. A series of Public Consultations is taking place across Quebec and Canada in order to explain the project, seek public feedback, and encourage broad participation in the Commission. Come out and join in!

With:
+ screening of "Guilt certificate" (short film by Alexander Kozminski,Clic Focus, 2005)
+Faraj Nakhleh, President, Canadian Arab Federation
+Marie-Eve Lamy and Tatiana Gomez
and more!

*translation (english, french, spanish, arabic)
*snacks
*childcare

BACKGROUND

Detained for years without charge, held under secret evidence, threatened with deportation to torture. This is a situation in which immigrants and refugees can find themselves in Canada. This is the nightmare which five men and their families are currently living in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal under the immigration "security certificate".

The ever-widening web of racist national security in the post 9/11 climate has incarcerated, deported, and killed thousands of people as Western states are waging a "war on terror" through militarization and occupation globally and policies of restrictive immigration domestically. As increasing numbers of people worldwide are forced to leave their homes in search of minimal security, dignity and opportunity elsewhere, governments in North America have responded with new measures which exclude or marginalize many of those who arrive on these stolen shores. At its most extreme, the national security agenda is making arbitrary detention, extraordinary rendition and secret and not-so-secret torture prisons seem normal, or at least up for debate.

In Canada, security measures in the immigration regime have emerged as a battle-front in the ongoing struggle of migrants and non-Europeans for equality in Canada and in the fight against expanding government powers of surveillance and control advancing under cover of the "war on terror". Under immigration security measures, non-citizens are denied their rights to a fair trial, to protection from arbitrary detention and to protection from torture. Security certificates and similar policies raise serious questions about how the principles of equality, liberty, presumption of innocence and security of the person are practiced in Canada. They increase the power of government officials over individuals. They raise important questions about the future direction of our society.

The PEOPLE'S COMMISSION will provide a forum for popular voices to be heard on this issue, especially the voices of people directly and indirectly affected by these measures, and of people whose security concerns have more to do with getting by than with undefined "national security". The names of the Commissioners will be announced on 28 March 2006. The Commissioners will study existing reports, gather information, conduct interviews, review new submissions and also hear testimonies at three days of accessible, open Public Hearings (21 to 23 April 2006, at 2515 Delisle St., Montreal). All material under review will be published on our website (though witness confidentiality will be respected). A report giving the findings and recommendations of the Commission will be published in mid-May and distributed as widely as possible.

The PEOPLE'S COMMISSION would like your input! Come out to the Public Consultation or contact us to find out the various ways you can contribute to the findings of the Commission.

E-mail: abol...@gmail.com
Tel.: 514-859 9023

The People's Commission is a project of the Coalition for Justice for Adil Charkaoui (http://www.adilinfo.org) and Solidarity Across Borders (http://www.solidarityacrossborders.org ).

The People's Commission has been endorsed by:
l'Association pour la défense des droits sociaux (ADDS), Black Coalition of Quebec, Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada, CAIR-CAN, Canadian Arab Federation (CAF), Canadian Council for Refugees, Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Communauté Catholique Congolaise de Montréal, Immigrant Workers' Centre, Muslim Council of Montreal, No One Is Illegal–Montreal, No One Is Illegal–Toronto, No One Is Illegal–Vancouver, Ontario Coaliton against Poverty (OCAP), Soeurs Auxiliatrices, the South Asian Women's Community Centre, Toronto Action for Social Change; Sponsored by: CKUT 90.3 FM, Council of Canadians, Inter Pares, Soeurs Auxiliatrices.