OCAP Letter In Support Of Non-Status Algerians

Norm Sterling
Attorney General of Ontario
720 Bay Street,
Toronto, ON
M5G 2K1

June 13th, 2003

Mr. Sterling,

We are writing with regards to the recent occupation and subsequent take-down which occured in the Ottawa office of Minister of Immigration Denis Coderre.

The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty demands that the charges of mischief over $5,000 levelled against the 12 people arrested in Coderre's office and the charges of obstruction and assault police against Francine Dumas and Michele Marois be dropped immediately.

We would like to remind you that the people who entered the office on May 29th, 2003 were unarmed members of the Commitee of Non-Status Algerians and their supporters, attempting to engage in a direct meeting with the elected official who ultimately oversees the fate of the many people living in Canada who face deportation. The Committee itself is comprised of Algerians who have made their homes and lives in the province of Quebec, who have been directly hit by Citizenship and Immigration Canada's lifting of the moratorium on deportations to Algeria - a country still very much affected by civil war and violence. It is comprised of people who are fighting for their lives and the lives of their families. Coderre and his Ministry have forced Algerian people living in Canada who are awaiting legalization of their status into a grave and dangerous situation. This is the reason the office occupation took place.

It took place because only half-measures have been granted by Immigration Canada, resulting in the landing of some non-status Algerians, but the exclusion of many more. It took place because the Committee and their supporters have not been dignified with the face-to-face discussion and adequate decision-making that is warranted. It took place because the Canadian government chooses to proceed with investment and money-making relations with Algerian government and business, whilst advising 'its own' citizens not to travel to Algeria, and continuing to allow deportation machinations to continue for 'non-status' people who fled Algeria for reasons of safety and security and have still not been granted the ability to remain in a country which can and should offer this. It took place because those who have the power to wreak brutal havoc upon peoples' lives are not willing to look the women and men, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons directly affected in the eyes, and consider the real impact this power can and does have.

As Attorney General of Ontario, you have the ability to intervene in an unjust and ugly situation. You would do well to remember the impact that the criminal charges stemming from the vicious arrests of the office occupants will have. If the 10 non-status individuals charged with mischief over $5,000 (one of the most minor charges in the criminal code) are convicted, they will nonetheless be deported, according to Immigration Canada's "Zero Tolerance" policy with regard to "criminality". The penalty of deportation to a country where they face the possibility of further violence and torture is entirely disproportionate to the charges levelled against them.

As well, the outrageous brutality of the police's treatment of all those arrested in connection with the occupation of Coderre's offices was such that it undermines the credibility of the charges. It seems obvious that the charges were laid arbitrarily, in order to justify the violence of the police's treatment of protesters.

The reprehensible actions of all involved - the Minister, the RCMP, and the Ottawa police - are inexcusable. The Committee's demands are just. We of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty take seriously the struggle of non-status people, refugees and immigrants in this country. We demand that the first step in turning around this situation be taken by you and that the criminal charges be dropped.

We await your decision.

Sincerely,

The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty