URAP CELEBRATES IRCC ANNOUNCEMENT ON LEVELS PLAN AND ITS COMMITMENT TO M-62
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REF: Minister of Immigration Hon. Marc Miller’s announcement
Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) welcomes the announcement of the supplementary information for the 2024-2026 immigration levels plan made on November 1, 2023 by IRCC (Ministry of Immigration).
This is a demonstration of the government’s commitment to fulfil the unanimous decision made earlier this year by Canadian parliament members in favor of Motion 62 on the resettlement 10,000 Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims.
URAP’s Executive Director Mehmet Tohti has said that this announcement marking Canada’s commitment “might be a small step for Canada but it is regarded as a giant step by Uyghur refugees to keep their hope alive during dark days.” This announcement is an important milestone in addressing the dire situation of Uyghur refugees stranded in unsafe third-party states who face possible deportation to China and that live under the direct threat of transnational repression.
This announcement also stands as a milestone and accomplishment for Canada, that it remains committed to protecting Uyghur refugees, and is the first and only Western, democratic country to make such a commitment. Canada is a shining example for responsible states to fulfil their moral and legal obligations to uphold legally binding international covenants to which they are the signatory states, like the Geneva Genocide Convention, Torture Ban Treaty and the Prevention of the Crimes against Humanity, among many others.
URAP expresses its deepest gratitude towards the Right Honorable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his leadership and other cabinet members, as well as all MPs from all political parties.
In particular, we salute the efforts of MP Sameer Zuberi, MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, MP Jenny Kwan, MP Heather McPherson, MP Garnett Genius and MP Salma Zahid for their active role in persuading their partners across all political parties to vote in favour of M-62.
Our special thanks to the Immigration Ministers past and present, MP Sean Fraser and MP Marc Miller, as well as all officers at IRCC and Global Affairs for their continued efforts.