CBC News: Discrimination at the border
CBC News recently covered allegations of discrimination by individuals at the Canadian border. These are reports from across the country, including individuals from Winnipeg. As noted by CBC News:
A report published on the Canada Border Services Agency website says that in a survey, one in four border agents said they directly witnessed a colleague discriminate against a traveller in the last two years.
Among those respondents, 71 per cent suggested the discrimination was based, in full or in part, on the traveller’s race, and just over three-quarters of respondents cited the traveller’s national or ethnic origin.
We would encourage you to read the story in its entirety on the CBC News website for details on the allegations.
CBC News contacted Alastair Clarke for comment:
Immigration lawyer Alastair Clarke, who has been working with immigrants for 25 years, said he’s not surprised by the results of the report.
“I would say the vast majority of individuals coming to Canada are treated fairly and professionally. However, there are cases where officers could treat individuals coming to Canada a little bit better, with a little bit more sensitivity,” he said.
“They have to balance the need to protect Canada, the need to do legitimate searches, to do legitimate investigations, with the other side, where they also need to treat people professionally and with courtesy,” he said.
Clarke has had clients contact his firm, Clarke Law, with stories of potential racism at the border. He’s taken these complaints to superintendents at different ports of entry on behalf of his clients, and the CBSA takes these complaints very seriously, he said.
Indeed, here at Clarke Immigration Law, we have met with clients who have experienced discrimination by CBSA Officers. These matters are handled by following the correct procedures.
Currently, Bill-20 is going through Parliament and it may create an independent public complaint process for individuals who experience discrimination by CBSA Officers or RCMP Officers.
As stated by a previous CBC News article:
In addition, there would be race-based data collection and publication to increase knowledge of systemic racism in law enforcement and guide responses.
The new Public Complaints and Review Commission would carry out reviews of any non-national-security activities of the RCMP and border services agency, either on the commission’s own initiative or at the request of the minister.
If you, or anyone you know, has experienced discrimination at the border, we would urge you to take action. If you would like assistance with this matter, please contact our office for assistance.