NDP: Suspend Safe Third Country agreement to save lives

NDP Critic on Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees, Jenny Kwan, issued the following statement:

“Last week, a man from Ivory Coast was hospitalized after being found collapsed in the snow after trying to cross into Canada.

This occurred after he attempted to come into Canada legally through a port of entry in Québec but he was refused asylum because of the Safe Third Country agreement.

The U.S. is no longer a safe country for refugees, and refugees continue to risk life and limb to come to Canada.

The Prime Minister said everyone is welcome in Canada, but his government has refused to change any refugee policy. What will it take for the Liberals to finally take this situation seriously and act?

The Liberal government must immediately suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement, so that refugees in the U.S. can apply legally and cross safely into Canada.”