WFP: Senator Failed Attempt to Help Refugees
Canadian lawyer and Senator Marilou McPhedran has been working to help communities in Winnipeg for years… possibly decades. She has been a tireless supporter for those who need a voice. She has been active in fighting social justice issues while she was a professor at the University of Winnipeg (full disclosure: my spouse is currently a professor at the University of Winnipeg, although they did not directly work together) and she has been doing commendable work since she nominated by PM Trudeau and appointed by GG Johnston to the Senate in 2016. To be frank, this space is not long enough to fully acknowledge the accolades and accomplishments of her career.
Despite the above, Senator McPhedran is currently under investigation based on her office’s failed attempt to help refugees in Afghanistan. This was reported by the Globe and Mail last week and, recently, by Carol Saunders at the Winnipeg Free Press.
As reported:
The Globe reported McPhedran’s office sent letters that looked like official Government of Canada documents to a family in Afghanistan, saying that each one named had been granted a visa to enter Canada, and asking that the group be given “safe travel to the Hamid Karzai International Airport so that they can board their organized flight.”
The Afghan family thought they were good to go, but discovered they hadn’t been granted visas. One year later, they remain in Afghanistan.
This news comes to light as PM Trudeau and the Liberals have announced the 20,000th Afghan refugee have arrived to Canada:
IOM’s longstanding partnerships with the Government of Canada have seen the resettlement of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the recent past, and the Organization will continue to collaborate with its partners globally to support Canada’s commitment to accept at least 40,000 Afghan refugees.
It is extremely unfortunate that this story may overshadow the enormous humanitarian work done to save Afghan citizens. As noted in the WFP:
There was “nothing fraudulent or illicit” in the actions she took regarding the Afghan rescue efforts, she said in an email to the paper. They were done in good faith “to help save lives” and are now being “mischaracterized.”
Within the reporting, Clarke Immigration Law was contacted for comment. As published:
Winnipeg immigration lawyer said the situation shows how careful advocates must be to ensure their actions benefit refugees.
“It seems Sen. McPhedran’s actions may have, in fact, been a detriment to these Afghans,” Alastair Clarke said.
Moreover, “she may have given them hope that a Canadian senator approved their applications, despite the fact that she does not have the power to make such decisions.”
Indeed, we recently reported on the case of ex-BC immigration lawyer who has been disbarred and may face jail time for his work to help refugees. In that case, it seems he intentionally submitted fraudulent documents to help his clients. Now, it seems, those former clients may face deportation and investigation by CBSA as a result of their former lawyer’s bad work.