Tracey Braun

On June 3, 2008, the Parliament of Canada passed a motion calling on the government to stop all removal proceedings against U.S. Iraq war resisters, and to implement a program to allow them to apply to stay in Canada as permanent residents. As recently as February 12th of this year, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration reaffirmed this motion.

This motion is supported by a majority of Canadians, including myself. Despite this nation-wide support, Stephen Harper and yourself, as Citizenship and Immigration Minister, have refused to implement this motion. Instead, the minority Conservative Government of Canada continues to deport war resisters, including the recent order that Kimberly Rivera and her family leave Canada by March 26, 2009, or face deportation.

Kimberly Rivera was the first woman U.S. soldier to seek refuge in Canada. She was deployed to Iraq and, while home on a leave, decided she could no longer participate in what she considered to be an illegal war. As a result, she came to Canada with her husband and two young children in January 2007, and their family was further blessed with a daughter born here in November 2008.

Although the Riveras had requested that their deportation date be postponed until June so the children can complete their school year, the Immigration Department has decided to ignore this plea. They have also refused to see the impact that sending Ms. Rivera back to the United States, where she will face certain imprisonment, will have on her husband and children. As a mother myself, I know it took incredible courage for Ms. Rivera to choose this path as the best option for her family. I would hope, as Canadians, we honour that courage by following the will of Parliament and allowing her to stay.