A Good Cause From Amnesty International/ Churches

The Canadian refugee system does not allow refugees to appeal a negative decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board on the merits of the claim.

Why not write your MP about this? The right to an appeal is fundamental, because it reduces the chance of people being harmed by unjust decisions. Just click on this link:

Give refugees the right to appeal: support Bill C-280

I remember that around this time two years ago, Canadian churches held a "Sanctuary Week", thus noting how the churches were becoming the final refuge for refugees facing deportation with no ability to appeal. It's a shame that things haven't changed much since then. But the church services were good, especially the one at Union United. A predominantly black congregation, they had an approach to worship that seemed so alive in comparison to what I was familar with. Also, their church was packed and seemed to be a major community focal point- again in contrast with most other churches in Montreal.

Unfortunately, they were to lose their rather charismatic minister less than a year after that. He hadn't passed all his Divinity courses. But he could preach! He used that skill in his activism too, not just in church.

That Sanctuary Week was when I really discovered this issue, thanks in part to a friend who was doing a project on it. It's good to see Amnesty International picking up on it. Solidarity Across Borders has been on the case for years, but it can only do so much on its own.