CONSERVATIVES VOTE AGAINST SIKSAY’S MOTION SEEKING AN END TO KINGSTON HUNGER STRIKE

OTTAWA - In an effort to resolve the crisis unfolding at the Kingston Immigration Holding Centre (KIHC), a motion introduced by NDP Citizenship and Immigration Critic Bill Siksay, MP Burnaby Douglas passed today at the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
The motion calls on the Conservative government to mandate the Office of the Correctional Investigator to assume jurisdiction over the KIHC so that the men’s grievances be investigated and resolved.
All opposition members of the Committee from the NDP, Bloc Quebecois and Liberal Parties supported the Motion. Conservative members voted against it.
“Conservative Minister Stockwell Day must immediately appoint the Correctional Investigator of Canada as an ombudsperson to speak to the men since Mr. Day himself has not done so,” said Siksay. “Their concerns must be investigated now and an urgent resolution to their hunger strike found.”
“The men require urgent medical attention,” said Siksay. “Mohammad Mahjoub is in the 75th Day of his hunger strike, Mahmoud Jaballah and Hassan Almrei are on day 64. Medical experts assert that hunger strikers should be monitored daily after the day 10 and that after day 49 serious health issues like heart failure, renal failure, heart arrhythmia arise.”
“Given the dangerous stage of this hunger strike Minister Day must ensure daily health monitoring and a full examination by an independent doctor in their living quarters,” said Siksay. “The Minister seems to be prepared to let these men die in his custody, without having been charged, or convicted, and not knowing the evidence against them, and without resolution to their concerns.”
Mr Jaballah, Mr. Almrei, and Mr. Mahjoub have been detained for over five and six years without charge or conviction, under the provision of security certificates.
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For more information, please contact:
Office of Bill Siksay, MP 613-996-5597