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Refugees, Amnesty International, the Refugee Lawyers' Association and the Barreau du Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>\nLast Friday, a\u00a0panel of experts on refugee law and policy, hosted by the Centre for Refugee Studies at ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ, unanimously called on Parliament to defeat Bill C-49, the government\u2019s proposed human smuggling legislation.<\/p>\n
Calling the proposed legislation draconian, appalling, egregious, outrageous and shameful, the experts joined a growing chorus of voices denouncing the bill, including the Canadian Council for Refugees, Amnesty International, the Refugee Lawyers' Association and the Barreau du Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>\n
Sean Rehaag (right)<\/strong>, a professor at York\u2019s Osgoode Hall Law School, summarized the concerns expressed by the panellists regarding the proposed legislation in a single sentence: \u201cThe bill is unconstitutional, it violates international refugee law and it is, frankly, mean-spirited.\u201d<\/p>\n Milner warned: \u201cCanada would lose significant political capital and credibility with countries in the global south if it introduced restrictive laws and measures in response to the arrival of less than 500 asylum seekers, while encouraging countries like Thailand to respond more generously to much larger groups.\u201d<\/p>\n Peter Showler, former chairperson at Canada\u2019s Immigration & Refugee Board, said that the provisions in the bill imposing mandatory unreviewable one-year detention on designated asylum seekers violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.<\/p>\n Rehaag agreed, adding that the penalties imposed by the bill on recognized refugees who come to the country using human smugglers \u2013 including mandatory detention and a minimum five-year bar on obtaining Canadian permanent residence and reuniting with family \u2013 are inconsistent with the purposes of the Immigration & Refugee Protection Act, and contravene the charter and international ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/yfile\/photos\/20101117\/JamesMilner.jpg\")
James Milner (left)<\/strong>, a professor of political science at Carleton University, said that the bill is a disproportionate response to the arrival of some 500 asylum seekers by sea in the past year, especially in light of the important role that Canada has historically played in encouraging countries in the global south to keep their borders open to asylum seekers. He noted during the panel discussion that, in one 48-hour period recently, over 32,000 asylum seekers crossed from Burma into Thailand \u2013 matching the total number of asylum seekers that Canada receives in a year.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/yfile\/photos\/20101117\/Audreymacklin.jpg\")
law.<\/p>\n