Latest news with #CanadianHumanRightsCommission
National Observer
3 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Canadian men, children held in Syria make human rights complaints against Ottawa
A dozen Canadian men and children detained in Syria are complaining to the Canadian Human Rights Commission that Ottawa is discriminating against them by not assisting their return to Canada. The Canadians are among the foreign nationals who have endured squalid and dangerous conditions for years in camps and prisons run by Kurdish forces that reclaimed the war-ravaged region from militant group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Some Canadian women and children have been repatriated in recent years with help from Canadian officials and the co-operation of Kurdish authorities. There are 12 complainants in the human rights commission case — five Canadian men and seven children aged five to 12. Lawyer Nicholas Pope, who launched the complaints, said federal policy guiding the repatriation of Canadians from the region discriminates based on age, sex and family status. Pope said the policy gives less favourable treatment to Canadian children whose mothers were not born in Canada. Canada has insisted that the remaining detained Canadian children, who were born to three non-Canadian mothers, be forcibly separated from their mothers and become orphans in Canada in order to receive repatriation services, he said. In addition, Ottawa has declined to help repatriate Canadian men. "Every Canadian has the right to be treated equally," Pope said in a statement. "This is a rare situation in which the detaining authority holding Canadians abroad is actually pleading with us to end the detention, but it is Ottawa that is selectively refusing to let some Canadians return home." Among the men complaining to the human rights commission is Jack Letts, who became a devoted Muslim as a teenager, went on holiday to Jordan, then studied in Kuwait before winding up in Syria. The Federal Court of Appeal ruled two years ago that Ottawa was not obligated under the law to repatriate Letts and three other Canadian men. The Supreme Court of Canada then declined to hear an appeal of the ruling. In accordance with the Canadian Human Rights Act, the human rights commission receives and screens complaints from people who believe they have experienced discrimination or harassment. The commission helps resolve disputes through mediation or conciliation, and sometimes refers complaints to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, an independent body that can decide whether there is discrimination. Pope said the commission "has put the files on a fast-track" and is requiring the government to participate in conciliation, which is in the process of being scheduled. The human rights commission did not respond to a request for comment. Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Charlotte MacLeod said that due to confidentiality the department is unable to comment on cases before the human rights commission. The complaint filed last August on behalf of Letts says he suffers from anemia and experiences considerable pain from a potentially life-threatening kidney disorder, but he cannot access adequate medical treatment. "The Complainant is held in prison in a small cell that is overcrowded and unsanitary," the form reads. "He lacks adequate food and medical attention. He has never been given any legal process to challenge his detention." It notes that Canada has repatriated women and children from northeastern Syria under federal policy, but not any men, even though their conditions are more dire than those of the repatriated women and children. "The blanket ban on repatriating adult males perpetuates the stereotype that men are more dangerous than women and children," the complaint says. In a response filed with the commission concerning Letts's case, the federal government says the commission should refuse to deal with the complaint because "the assessment of the complainant's situation is ongoing and a decision whether to provide extraordinary assistance has not yet been made." The government also denies the allegation that Letts was not given repatriation assistance because of his sex or age. A statement of reply to the commission on behalf of Letts says the government has twice made determinations to refuse him repatriation services. In a response to the commission concerning the complaints involving children, the government denies the federal policy is discriminatory towards them on the basis of family status. MacLeod said Global Affairs continues to evaluate the provision of extraordinary assistance, including repatriation to Canada, on a case-by-case basis. "Canadian consular officials remain actively engaged with authorities and international organizations operating in Syria for information on and assistance to Canadian citizens in custody," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian men, children held in Syria pursue human rights complaints against Ottawa
OTTAWA – A dozen Canadian men and children detained in Syria are complaining to the Canadian Human Rights Commission that Ottawa is discriminating against them by not assisting their return to Canada. The Canadians are among the foreign nationals who have endured squalid and dangerous conditions for years in camps and prisons run by Kurdish forces that reclaimed the war-ravaged region from militant group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Some Canadian women and children have been repatriated in recent years with help from Canadian officials and the co-operation of Kurdish authorities. There are 12 complainants in the human rights commission case — five Canadian men and seven children aged five to 12. Lawyer Nicholas Pope, who launched the complaints, said federal policy guiding the repatriation of Canadians from the region discriminates based on age, sex and family status. Pope said the policy gives less favourable treatment to Canadian children whose mothers were not born in Canada. Canada has insisted that the remaining detained Canadian children, who were born to three non-Canadian mothers, be forcibly separated from their mothers and become orphans in Canada in order to receive repatriation services, he said. In addition, Ottawa has declined to help repatriate Canadian men. 'Every Canadian has the right to be treated equally,' Pope said in a statement. 'This is a rare situation in which the detaining authority holding Canadians abroad is actually pleading with us to end the detention, but it is Ottawa that is selectively refusing to let some Canadians return home.' Among the men complaining to the human rights commission is Jack Letts, who became a devoted Muslim as a teenager, went on holiday to Jordan, then studied in Kuwait before winding up in Syria. The Federal Court of Appeal ruled two years ago that Ottawa was not obligated under the law to repatriate Letts and three other Canadian men. The Supreme Court of Canada then declined to hear an appeal of the ruling. In accordance with the Canadian Human Rights Act, the human rights commission receives and screens complaints from people who believe they have experienced discrimination or harassment. The commission helps resolve disputes through mediation or conciliation, and sometimes refers complaints to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, an independent body that can decide whether there is discrimination. Pope said the commission 'has put the files on a fast-track' and is requiring the government to participate in conciliation, which is in the process of being scheduled. The human rights commission did not respond to a request for comment. Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Charlotte MacLeod said that due to confidentiality the department is unable to comment on cases before the human rights commission. The complaint filed last August on behalf of Letts says he suffers from anemia and experiences considerable pain from a potentially life-threatening kidney disorder, but he cannot access adequate medical treatment. 'The Complainant is held in prison in a small cell that is overcrowded and unsanitary,' the form reads. 'He lacks adequate food and medical attention. He has never been given any legal process to challenge his detention.' It notes that Canada has repatriated women and children from northeastern Syria under federal policy, but not any men, even though their conditions are more dire than those of the repatriated women and children. 'The blanket ban on repatriating adult males perpetuates the stereotype that men are more dangerous than women and children,' the complaint says. In a response filed with the commission concerning Letts's case, the federal government says the commission should refuse to deal with the complaint because 'the assessment of the complainant's situation is ongoing and a decision whether to provide extraordinary assistance has not yet been made.' The government also denies the allegation that Letts was not given repatriation assistance because of his sex or age. A statement of reply to the commission on behalf of Letts says the government has twice made determinations to refuse him repatriation services. In a response to the commission concerning the complaints involving children, the government denies the federal policy is discriminatory towards them on the basis of family status. MacLeod said Global Affairs continues to evaluate the provision of extraordinary assistance, including repatriation to Canada, on a case-by-case basis. 'Canadian consular officials remain actively engaged with authorities and international organizations operating in Syria for information on and assistance to Canadian citizens in custody,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
STATEMENT - Canada is stronger when human rights are protected
OTTAWA, ON, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Following the 2025 Speech from the Throne, Charlotte-Anne Malischewski, Interim Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney along with all members of Canada's new Parliament and issues the following statement: Now is an opportunity for the country to remain true to Canadian values, to look at what unites us, and to put in place bold policies that strengthen our country. Canadians care about human rights—86% agree that human rights have a social and democratic benefit. Our commitment to human rights – to equality, dignity and respect for all – is what makes us who we are. It is a Canadian value, and a defining part of our shared identity. Today, Canada faces significant and complex challenges. This government has committed to addressing the rising cost of living and the urgent need for adequate housing, to championing the safe integration of artificial intelligence into society, and to standing firm in protecting of our sovereignty. We believe that meaningful, sustainable solutions to these challenges must be rooted in a steadfast commitment to human rights. Whether we are growing our economy, making housing more affordable, addressing systemic racism and the rise in hate, creating a barrier-free Canada, upholding Canada's diversity and serving the most vulnerable, or ensuring that every person has the opportunity to live free from discrimination, Canadians are looking for leadership that reflects their values and aspirations. As we chart the course ahead, we must lead with the values of equality, dignity, and respect for all. This means advancing accessibility for people with disabilities, closing persistent pay gaps through pay equity, and removing systemic barriers so that everyone can fully participate in society. Building a strong Canada will take all of us. Making sure everyone is included and can participate will only make us stronger. Stay connected Follow the Canadian Human Rights Commission on social media. SOURCE Canadian Human Rights Commission View original content:
Cision Canada
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
STATEMENT - Canada is stronger when human rights are protected
OTTAWA, ON, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Following the 2025 Speech from the Throne, Charlotte-Anne Malischewski, Interim Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney along with all members of Canada's new Parliament and issues the following statement: Now is an opportunity for the country to remain true to Canadian values, to look at what unites us, and to put in place bold policies that strengthen our country. Canadians care about human rights— 86% agree that human rights have a social and democratic benefit. Our commitment to human rights – to equality, dignity and respect for all – is what makes us who we are. It is a Canadian value, and a defining part of our shared identity. Today, Canada faces significant and complex challenges. This government has committed to addressing the rising cost of living and the urgent need for adequate housing, to championing the safe integration of artificial intelligence into society, and to standing firm in protecting of our sovereignty. We believe that meaningful, sustainable solutions to these challenges must be rooted in a steadfast commitment to human rights. Whether we are growing our economy, making housing more affordable, addressing systemic racism and the rise in hate, creating a barrier-free Canada, upholding Canada's diversity and serving the most vulnerable, or ensuring that every person has the opportunity to live free from discrimination, Canadians are looking for leadership that reflects their values and aspirations. As we chart the course ahead, we must lead with the values of equality, dignity, and respect for all. This means advancing accessibility for people with disabilities, closing persistent pay gaps through pay equity, and removing systemic barriers so that everyone can fully participate in society. Building a strong Canada will take all of us. Making sure everyone is included and can participate will only make us stronger.
Canada Standard
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Canada Standard
Canada's audiovisual industry should better reflect the country's diversity
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has recently undertaken a consultation on defining Canadian programming in the film and television industry. A longstanding focus has been to base the definition of Canadian programming on having Canadian citizens or permanent residents occupying key creative or ownership positions in film and television. Similar definitions are used in Canada for other cultural industries such as music, publishing and the arts. However, the growth of online content has challenged longstanding approaches that were developed when national borders played a larger role in media markets. Today, a new generation of artists and online creators are less likely to see their markets or identities confined by national boundaries. This has also highlighted barriers faced by others, long ignored, who don't necessarily define their cultural identity by their nationality. This can include people from other countries who want to pursue arts and culture careers in Canada, Indigenous communities or anyone who defines their identity by anything other than their citizenship. An important reason for underrepresentation in cultural industries is the citizenship-based approach to Canadian content used by the CRTC in audiovisual policy and the federal and provincial governments in a variety of culture programs. This approach creates preferential access to opportunities for people who are much more likely to be white. The Canadian Human Rights Commission has stated that progress towards eliminating systemic racism and discrimination in a meaningful way will remain elusive as long as any doubt remains about the existence of systemic racism in Canada. Canadian audiovisual policy illustrates that systemic racism does exist and remains embedded in Canadian culture policy. The 2021 census indicated that around one-quarter of Canada's population is racialized. That includes 69.3 per cent of immigrants and 83.1 per cent of non-permanent residents. The census also shows that racialized people are underrepresented in all cultural industries, such as film and television, music, publishing and performing arts. Those who are able to work in cultural occupations often earn far less than their non-racialized counterparts. As the Ontario Human Rights Commission has stated: "Organizations must ensure that they are not unconsciously engaging in systemic discrimination. This takes vigilance and a willingness to monitor and review numerical data, policies, practices and decision-making processes and organizational culture. It is not acceptable from a human rights perspective for an organization to choose to remain unaware of systemic discrimination or to fail to act when a problem comes to its attention." The relationship between immigration, underrepresentation and industry growth, success and cultural impact is particularly important for effective Canadian policy because almost all of Canada's net population growth is due to immigration. Today, Canada is increasingly using a two-step immigration system in which immigrants are selected from non-permanent residents already living in Canada. It is particularly difficult for a culture industry worker to settle in Canada because they don't qualify for public funding programs in these industries prior to becoming a permanent resident. In addition, relevant work they are able to find may not count toward their future immigration applications because it may be self-employment, contract or part-time work, which is the norm in these industries. There is little effort to either attract foreign workers in these industries or help them integrate into a workforce in which self-employment and contract work is very common, and success is largely determined by access to established networks. Canada's parochial approach that equates culture with nationality echoes a troubled history of cultural assimilation and discrimination. The country does not appear to have learned important lessons about the impact of cultural nationalist assimilation from the Truth and Reconciliation process, restrictive immigration policies or the advancement of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It says to some: your cultural identity is Canadian. It says to others: you're not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident so anything you create has no cultural value. Inclusive creative industries allow for the cultural contributions of more people and foster collaboration and new ideas, which are important drivers of a productive industry. Productivity is significantly lower in Canada than in the United States. High human capital industries like the creative industries are primary drivers of productivity and are supported by the migration of skilled people. A definition of Canadian content based on citizenship or permanent residency status is often promoted as a way to defend against the influx of American cultural products from Hollywood. However, Hollywood products currently have no citizenship focus. Like all highly successful culture centres, Hollywood has always founded its success on attracting talented people from around the world. U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to impose film tariffs on foreign-produced films similarly does not reflect an understanding that this is a global industry. It is a short step from there to wanting only Americans in key creative and ownership roles. That would restrict Hollywood's access to global talent and resources, undermine its primary advantage, and undermine the industry's competitiveness. Read more: Tax Canadian movies? Why culture has always been at the centre of trade wars As a leading global destination for immigrants and with aspirations to be inclusive, Canada has the unique potential to become a leading global culture centre with thriving and diverse creative industries. To achieve this potential, the CRTC and Canadian governments must reorient their policies to develop cultural industries that cultivate great art by talented people, regardless of their identity or where they are from.
