The increase of discriminatory immigration policy with the threat of terrorism in Canada

Introduction

Canada is known as being a country that has a broad immigration policy, which is reflected in Canada’s ethnic diversity . However, more recently Canadian immigration policy, specifically the humanitarian class of the policy, discriminates incoming immigrants on the basis of race due to the prejudice and racial tendencies associated with the threat of terrorism in Canada and the Unites States . By discussing both the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act introduced by the federal government in 2001 and the affects the new act has had in reaction to the Syrian refugee crisis, as well as racial profiling and stereotyping that occurred as a result of extremist terrorist acts, which include 9/11, and the more recent Paris terrorist attacks, the policy actions can be better realized.

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

In 2001, the federal government introduced the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, replacing the previous [[1976 Immigration Act. This new legislation retained much of the previous legislation’s (1976 Immigration Act) framework. However, the Act did tighten eligibility requirements for the humanitarian pathway for refugees. The new act was seen by a number of groups to have gone to far in the way Canada treats immigrants and potential immigrants. The act also “coincided with the introduction of the governments new anti terrorism measures and climate in which security and border control dominated the agenda” . Additionally, “Recent political policies branching from the act allow the government the power to be able to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens if they are deemed to have committed certain crimes against the state. The government’s choice of revoking their citizenship as opposed to using the existing criminal justice system is an immediate indication of the policies tendency to view immigrants and refugees seeking asylum as something other than Canadians, even when that is what they are” . This policy was introduced by the Harper government in response to the terrorist attacks that took pace in Ottawa and Quebec just two days apart from each other in 2014 (shooting at Parliament Hill Ottawa leaving 1 dead and terror car ramming in parking lot crash in Quebec leaving 2 dead). The bill (Bill C-51) introduced by the Harper government and backed by the Liberals, is known as an Anti-Terrorism Act and is based on a stereotypical analysis and association of virtually all brown people being extremist Muslims and therefore a threat to national security (Omidvar 2015:62). The bill broadened the Canadian governments authority to a point where it allowed not only access to information to become easier and expanded the mandate of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, but also instilled the fear of deportation in the eyes of ethnic minorities in Canada to fear being deported to a country their parents were from, even if said person was born in Canada . This bill leads to the misidentification of Canadian citizens as they are being classified as terrorists, and will ultimately lead to higher amounts of people being falsely racially identified and accused of being terrorist suspects.  The provisions in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act were aimed toward gaining control and ultimately “close the doors” on people wanting to immigrate to Canada . Additionally, The new act provided the government with the power to constrict and have additional control in light of the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001 in the United States, which included the power to arrest, detain and deport landed immigrants on the suspicion that they might possibly be, or could become, a security threat to Canada. Furthermore, the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States, which was introduced in 2002, was a legislation created mainly to prevent refugees and asylum seekers in the United States from leaving, and possibly escaping American authorities, by turning to possibly make a refugee claim in Canada and vice versa . This Safe Third Country Agreement significantly disturbs the rights and status of permanent residents, foreign nationals, and incoming refugees . Overall, the act results in refugees being portrayed as the embodiment of danger and therefore, as a prominent threat to the physical, moral and political security and well being of the Canadian nation . A portrayal, that to this day, still exists in light of the critical Syrian refugee crisis.

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act affects to Syrian Refugee Crisis

According to the 2014 [[United Nations report by the refugee agency, Canada is seen at the bottom of the 15 industrialized receiving countries, with about 13500 claims reported in 2014. Compared to a staggering 75 100 refugees admitted in the small Nordic country of Sweden in 2014, who’s total population amounts to the size of roughly 9.6 million, totaling to only about a quarter of Canada’s total population . Although the processing time has increased a lot from previous years, due to refugees having to pass through multiple security measures and have a medical check up prior to travel, more staff and additional funds could speed up timelines significantly . Several provincial and municipal leaders have expressed outright refusal and extreme concern over “… speed taking priority over security” . The threat of terrorism resulted in immediate bias and outward racial profiling and stereotyping toward anyone who remotely resembled a Muslim, especially during the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and more recently, the Paris terrorist attacks.

Result of extremist terrorist attacks: (9/11/ Paris Attacks)          

Threat results in a lack of empathy toward the people who conveyed the threat. This lack of empathy is then prescribed toward not just the people responsible, but everyone who seems like they could be remotely associated . Through the events of 9/11 until the recent Paris terrorist attacks, racial tensions hit an all time high and Muslims were, and still are considered to be the number one enemy.

The stereotype Muslims face affects the process of humanitarian immigration to Canada as it portrayed each and every individual as a threat to Canadian security, solely based on the color of their skin and the religion they practice. Having had my own father a victim of racial profiling during three separate occasions in airports as my family was going on vacation in the last five years alone, one could assume that the stereotype and terrorist association is one that is extremely evident in Canadian society. If institutional discrimination and racial profiling is evident in people who are Canadian citizens, what might people who fit the racial stereotype of what the majority believe to be an “extremist Muslim terrorist” expect when having to go through the process of being able to come to Canada ?

The highly visible distinction of race is one that cannot be eradicated no matter how culturally engulfed one may be. “Skin color identifies people… , so racial profiling for those who fit the mould is inevitable. But that does not mean it is something that should be happening. Due to a few people’s actions, an entire race began to fear for their lives, which is not something the majority usually considers, nor what the media discloses. After the events of 9/11 and the Paris attacks, hate crimes have risen all around the globe. Fear is etched into the eyes of people due solely on the basis of the color of their skin and their religion. Association of threat and innocents therefore results in the Canadian humanitarian immigration policy becoming discriminatory and one that is difficult to deem as completely accepting .

Summary

Since the 1980s, Canadian immigration policy, specifically the humanitarian class of the policy, discriminates incoming immigrants on the basis of race due to the prejudice and racial tendencies associated with the threat of terrorism in Canada and the Unites States . The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act introduced by the federal government in 2001 and the affects the new act has had in reaction to the Syrian refugee crisis significantly emphasized racial discrimination. Additionally, the immigration policy highlights the racial profiling and stereotyping that occurs to racial minorities as a result of extremist terrorist acts, which include 9/11 and the more recent Paris terrorist, all which significantly affected and threated Canadian national security in one way or another.