News Release

NARCC Welcomes the Supreme Court of Canada's decision to strike down provisions of the Anti-terrorism Act and security provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

February 27, 2007

(TORONTO) The National Anti-Racism Council of Canada (NARCC) welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada to strike down as unconstitutional the use of security certificates by the federal government to detain without charge and to deport non citizens.

NARCC working in coalition with other non-governmental organizations including the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR), The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICMLG), and the African Canadian Legal Clinic (ACLC), was granted intervener status to the Supreme Court of Canada in the Adil Charkoui, Mohamed Harkat and Hassan Almrie cases against the Minister of Citizenship & Immigration, the Solicitor General of Canada, and the Attorney General for Canada. NARCC together with CCR, ICMLG and ACLC challenged the constitutionality of Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act and the security provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. NARCC spoke to the implications of the anti-terrorism act and provisions of the security certificates on racialized communities.

"The Supreme Court has rightly confirmed that all individuals in Canada whether citizens or not, are entitled to the protections enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms", said Kemi Jacobs, Chair of NARCC. "In reaching this decision, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized that security certificates perpetuated and exacerbated the vulnerability of non-citizens, and infringed on their constitutionally-protected legal rights."

"The Supreme Court of Canada's ruling means that individuals will no longer be in a status of limbo but will have the ability to properly defend themselves and the ability to have a fair trial", Mohamed Boudjanane, Executive Director of the Canadian Arab Federation and Director of NARCC added.

"Racialized group members are now breathing a sigh of relief," Colleen Hua, Chinese Canadian National Council National President and Director of NARCC said. "The detention and deportation of permanent residents and non-citizens is no longer at the discretion of government officials, there is a return to respect for human rights."

NARCC is a not-for-profit community based organization with over 120 members and 60 associates devoted to the elimination of racism and other forms of related discrimination in Canada.

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For further information please contact: Estella Muyinda, Executive Director, NARCC by telephone number at 416-979-3909 ext 2, or by email at estellamuyinda@narcc.ca.

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