Amnesty International Canada has been raising the alarm and speaking out against Bill C-2, the federal government’s new border bill, which would make it virtually impossible for most people entering Canada via the U.S. to have their refugee claim reviewed by the Immigration and Refugee Board. The bill would also effectively block people who have been in Canada for more than a year from seeking refugee status. As a result, people who face persecution, torture, or worse in their countries of origin could be unfairly denied refugee protection by Canada.
“Seeking asylum is a human right,” said Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada. “With Bill C-2, the Canadian government threatens to chip away at that right, making it harder for people seeking safety and freedom to file an asylum claim and have it assessed fairly.”
