NDP statement on the Liberals' appeal of the federal court ruling to protect refugees in Canada

Earlier today, NDP Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Critic Jenny Kwan released the following statement:

“By appealing this ruling, the federal Liberals are saying they'd rather let people seeking the safety of asylum here in Canada suffer under Donald Trump's rules, than stand up for human rights and Canadian values.

The court struck down the Safe Third Country Agreement because it found that asylum seekers who are turned back to the U.S. through the agreement are routinely imprisoned and placed into solitary confinement in retaliation of their seeking refuge in Canada.

Instead of accepting the court's ruling and terminating the agreement, the Liberal government has chosen to double down on turning back asylum seekers to a country that has a policy of separating children from their parents without any way of reuniting them.

This is not only a violation of basic human rights enshrined in the Charter, it’s a violation of international law and puts asylum seekers’ lives at risk. It’s a heartless and shameful act. It’s un-Canadian.”