Conservatives’ immigration bill jeopardizes citizenship of Fahmy and others

Despite assurances from the Conservative government that the Citizenship and Immigration Minister will not strip Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy of his citizenship, the NDP remains concerned about the repercussions of the recent Immigration Act changes on others who may be unjustly convicted of similar crimes abroad.

“For months we tried to warn the Conservatives about the flaws and potential repercussions of their immigration bill but they ignored us,” said NDP Citizenship and Immigration critic Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds-Dollard). “We are relieved that Minister Alexander will not be using his newly-created powers to revoke Mr. Fahmy’s Canadian citizenship, but remain staunchly opposed to the legislation that put him in jeopardy.”

The Conservatives’ recently passed Bill C-24 allows the immigration minister to strip any dual citizen of their Canadian citizenship if they are convicted abroad of serious crimes, including terrorism. Mr. Fahmy’s arrest and sentencing for reporting on the situation in Egypt have provoked international outrage.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair sent a letter yesterday to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, asking him to provide assurance that Mohamed Fahmy would not be stripped of his Canadian citizenship. The letter is attached.