By Laura Lira
Canada is expected to sign on to the United Nations Global Compact for Migration during a UN meeting on Dec 10 and 11. The agreement aims to “facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration” across the globe, setting out 23 objectives in its draft. The objectives include ensuring access to basic services for migrants regardless of their status, making migration processes easier and “using immigration detention only as a measure of last resort” — the Toronto Star has reported today on immigration detainees that were in jail for up to five and a half years because officials didn’t think they would show up for a potential deportation.
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer has criticized the federal government’s endorsement of the pact, saying that “foreign entities will be in control of our immigration system”. The UN agreement is non-binding, meaning it will not legally interfere with the countries’ immigration policies, working as a symbolic declaration.
Trudeau reacted to Scheer’s speech, in the House of Commons, saying that “welcoming people through a rigorous immigration system from around the world is what has made Canada strong, and indeed something the world needs more of, not less of like they want to bring in”, pointing a finger at his political rival.
Some countries, including the United States and Australia, are concerned with the agreement and have said they will not sign on.
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