FULL REPORT

People's commission on immigration security measures

For three days in April 2006, the People’s Commission on Immigration Security Measures held Public Hearings at a community centre in Montreal’s Little Burgundy neighbourhood. The first popular commission of inquiry on immigration issues to take place in Quebec, its purpose was to investigate the implications of security-related measures currently imposed on international migrants in the name of national security. The Commission, though based in Montreal, drew on support from Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, Sherbrooke, Halifax and elsewhere in Canada. The Commission investigated and reported on the actions of Canadian government bodies in relation to Immigration and Refugee Protection Act security measures (IRPA), examining the equality of treatment of non-citizens, security certificates and similar procedures, detention and deportation (including deportation to torture). Based on its findings, the Commission has made recommendations for appropriate legal or popular action against those responsible for abuses and for changes to the current legal and procedural framework.

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Final report

1. STATUS OF REPORT

First drafts of the different sections of the report are coming in today. The editorial team will be pulling together a first complete draft for 24 May and, after comments, finalising the text for 30 May. It will then be sent on to proof-readers and translators and lay-out people for final assembly and printing.

2. LAUNCH AND PROMOTION

*We will be travelling to Ottawa on 6 June:
10am- Press conference in Parliament
11-1pm-Visit as many MPs as possible to deliver the Report and discuss recommendations
2pm-Delegation to PM's office/info-picket outside: attempt to meet someone
in Prime Minister's office to deliver report and discuss conclusions. 3pm- NDP may ask a question in parliament, and is open to tabling it in Parliament as well

*Report will be mailed/delivered to the following:
-Members of Parliament via NDP
-groups who were involved in the initiative
-key journalists and editors

*We will also mass distribute the press release by email and fax, with a website address where the full report can be found.

3. SUMMER PROJECT/POP ED VERSION

The organising collective has applied for a grant from one of the university organisations to put together a multi-media popular education version of the report. This would consist of a colourful and fun to use booklet, a CD with audio and video clips. This is something that we could use over the next year in our education work on these issues.

best, People's Commission organising collective tel 514 859 9023 www.peoplescommission.ath.cx