Original author: Alex Neve & Michel Frenette
URL: [link]
Date: March 31, 2004
OPEN LETTER FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CANADA TO ANNE MCLELLAN ABOUT SECURITY CERTIFICATES
The Honourable Anne McLellan,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
340 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P8
By fax: 990-9077
March 31, 2004
Dear Deputy Prime Minister McLellan,
We are writing this open letter to you to underscore Amnesty International's serious concerns with respect to the security certificate provisions that have been part of Canada's immigration legislation for a number of years.
Over the past several years Amnesty International has, on numerous occasions, written to the Canadian government, highlighting individual cases in which we considered that the security certificate process was resulting in violations of a number of fundamental human rights. We are aware of at least six individuals who are currently being held pursuant to security certificates. These individuals have been in detention for an extended period now, close to four years in one case.
We repeat Amnesty International's concerns below and urge that you take immediate steps to reform the security certificate process to bring it into full compliance with Canada's international human rights obligations.
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