NDP MPs Join Women’s Organizations and Migrant Rights Advocates Condemning Bill C-12

NDP MPs Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) and Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East) are standing alongside women’s organizations and migrant rights advocates calling on all Members of Parliament to reject the Liberals’ border and immigration legislation, Bill C-12, expected to be voted on at third reading this week.

“With Bill C-12, we’re again seeing the Liberals abandon their commitments to gender equality, pushing through legislation straight out of Trump’s playbook,” said Gazan. “Bill C-12 would place greater restrictions on women asylum seekers fleeing gender based violence, and would force many to stay in abusive relationships or unsafe working conditions as their immigration or refugee status is made more precarious. It clearly undermines women’s safety, but the Liberals do not seem to care.”

Among those joined by Gazan and Kwan include representatives of Fédération des femmes du Québec, Amnesty International, Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants, Action Réfugiés Montréal, and the Canadian Council for Refugees. According to these organizations, Bill C-12 retains many of the human rights violating provisions from the Government’s border bill, Bill C-2, which disproportionately harm women and gender diverse populations.

As NDP critic for Public Safety, MP Kwan shared her disappointment that the Liberals, Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois voted down NDP amendments to minimize harms on newcomers and asylum claimants. Civil society organizations have said loud and clear that Bill C-12 should be withdrawn. Despite that, the Liberals worked hand in glove with the Conservatives and Bloc to push it through the legislative process.

"Canada should not be violating migrants’ rights, especially those of women and children,” Kwan said. “I am dismayed that the Liberals have joined hands with both the Conservatives and Bloc to reject all of the NDP amendments, including amendments to exempt unaccompanied children, survivors of gender based violence and 2SLGBTQI+ members from being arbitrarily sent back to war zones, places ravaged by environmental disaster or where they face persecution due to their sexual orientation or gender identity."

“This bill is a total affront to dignity, fairness, due process and gender equality. The NDP will continue to fight for the rights of newcomers, migrants and refugees," said Kwan.