OTTAWA: NDP Citizenship and Immigration Critic Bill Siksay today renewed the NDP’s call for the Conservative government to implement provisions of the current Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) related to the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD).

“Conservatives like to talk about being accountable. Here is an instance where they can show that they appreciate being accountable to Parliament in ways Liberals never understood,” said Siksay.

The RAD was passed by Parliament during the debate on IRPA in 2001. Since then, Liberal Ministers of Citizenship and Immigration, and now the Conservative government and Conservative Ministers have refused to implement it, denying failed refugee claimants an appeal on the facts and merits of their cases.

“I believe that it shows contempt for the Parliamentary process and indeed Parliament itself to refuse to implement legislation that was fully and carefully debated and ultimately passed. I believe that it shows contempt for the compromise reached during the debate on IRPA, a compromise that allowed Immigration and Refugee Panels to be reduced from two members to one, only if the RAD was available.”

“The Conservatives can choose to show they’re different by implementing the RAD. Otherwise, its business as usual, using the Liberal’s low standards, where the government and cabinet ministers ignore Parliament and decide unilaterally which laws they want to obey.

“The RAD is necessary to ensure justice and fairness in our refugee determination system and respect for Parliament. Minister Finley should get on with the RAD without further delay”, concluded Siksay.

Siksay spoke today in the House of Commons during Private Member’s Debate on a bill that seeks to implement provisions of IRPA dealing with the Refugee Appeal Division.

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For more information please contact:
Office of Bill Siksay, MP 613-996-5597