Chantal Tie is in Geneva to represent the CCR as the Committee begins its examination of Canada’s compliance with the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.  Speaking at the Committee’s NGO hearing, Ms Tie highlighted family separation as one of the key problem areas for Canada.  Immigration policies and practices keep children separated from their parents for years, sometimes forever, in violation of Canada’s obligation to protect families.  Among the barriers to family reunification are regulations which exclude certain family members (an issue already identified as a concern by the Committee), slow processing and denial of family reunification to those who are poor and to separated refugee children.

The examination of Canada by the Committee is scheduled to begin on Friday 5 May.

The CCR has submitted a written report to the Committee.  It notes that discrimination against non-citizens underlies the problems highlighted and in itself represents a violation of the right to non-discrimination.  The report also documents how some non-citizens are denied government benefits and services, such as the Canada Child Tax Benefit Supplement, leaving children in poverty.  Another topic highlighted is Canada’s failure to respect the rights of temporary workers to organize and bargain collectively.  The report can be found at:

http://www.ccrweb.ca/CESCRsubmission.pdf and supporting background information at http://www.ccrweb.ca/CESCRbackgrounder.pdf.

Speaking notes for presentation to United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights can be found at http://www.ccrweb.ca/CESCRnotes.html.

Contacts:

Janet Dench, Executive Director, (514) 277-7223 (ext. 2)
Colleen French, Communications and Networking Coordinator, (514) 277-7223 (ext. 1) to organize an interview with a person directly affected by points raised in the report