Marston calls on government to adopt recommendations from U.N. report on torture

OTTAWA –New Democrat Human Rights Critic, Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) has tabled a motion before the International Human Rights Committee calling on the Conservatives toimplement the recommendations for Canada from the recent report by the United Nations Committee Against Torture.

“Canada signed on to the UN treaty against torturein 1985 and was one of the first countries to do so.Conservatives are obliged by this international agreement to respond to the Committee’s report. Contrary towhat the government claims, this report is not arbitrary,” said Marston. “My motion calls on theGovernment of Canada to honour its signature on this treaty and publicly release a comprehensive plan of action for how it intends to implement the report’s recommendations.”

Last Friday, the UN Committee against Torture released its review of Canada’s record on preventing, punishing and remedying torture and ill-treatment. The report highlights four particular recommendations that it wishes to see implemented by next year:

(1) reform of the immigration security certificate process;

(2) a withdrawal mandatory detention and refugee appeal restrictions from Bill C-31;

(3) redress for Abdullah Almaki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati, Muayyed Nureddin; and

(4) ensuring that Ministerial Direction to CSIS concerning intelligence information and torture is brought in line with Canada’s international obligations.

“I can’t understand why the Conservatives are so hostile to implementing these recommendations,” said Marston. “I am shocked that they are not willing to take to steps to ensure that Canada isn’t party to torture around the world.”