Bill C-31 represents what would be a serious deterioration in the treatment of refugees in Canada

Bill C-31: Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act is now referred to a parliamentary standing committee. The bill represents what would be a serious deterioration in the treatment of refugees in Canada, including:

• Mandatory imprisonment of refugees who enter Canada without permission for twelve months without a hearing. Children will either be imprisoned with parents or separated from them.
• If these refugees receive a positive determination in their case they are then prohibited from applying for permanent residence and from bringing their families to Canada for a least five years.
• The Minister of Immigration has single-handed power to decide which countries are safe. Refugees from a country determined 'safe', even if they are members of a persecuted minority in that country, will have no access to an appeal and will be fast-tracked through the system in as few as 30 days.
• If conditions in a country of origin should change, previously recognized refugees may be stripped of permanent resident status deported.

For a discussion of a biblical response to refugees you might like to read my online article: Immigration, Refugees and the Old Testament.

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