WHERE: Thurs. Jan 12th at 10:30 am at Philippine Women’s Center, 451 Powell St, Vancouver.

WHO: Chinese-Canadian National Council, Canadian Council for Refugees, No One is Illegal, South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy, and Philippine Women’s Center

In recent weeks, federal politicians have attempted to court the "immigrant vote" with certain policy announcements such as hose relating to Chinese Head Tax redress and the $975 landing fee. In response to such announcements, a diverse number of ommunity-based groups will be challenging federal politicians to address immigration issues in a substantive manner at a press conference on Thursday January 12th at 10:30 am at Philippine Women’s Center (451 Powell St, Vancouver)

Head Tax redress has become a key community-driven election issue. At least three Liberal cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister have now spoken about reversing their position of "no apology, no compensation".

Sid Tan, National Director of Chinese-Canadian National Council (CCNC), however, states that what is required is a "full Parliamentary apology for 62 years of legislated racism. An individual apology is not good enough."

CCNC has sought redress of the Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act for more than 20 years, but was excluded from a controversial deal between the Government and a group that it chose to represent Chinese-Canadian interests.

In response to the promise to slash the landing fee, Glecy Duran of SIKLAB- a national organization of Filipino migrant workers – states, "the $975 head tax exposes how Canadian immigration is far from being humanitarian. Immigration is essentially a cash cow for the Canadian government without regard to the human rights of new immigrants and temporary workers. We challenge the Government to put human rights first by ending the unjust deportation of Filipino live-in caregivers who cannot complete the required 24 months of live-in work within three years."

"Such policy announcements are band-aid solutions that do not address the systemic and structural flaws of the immigration system," states Harjap Grewal of the immigrant and refugee rights collective No One is Illegal-Vancouver. "For example, the anti-terrorism legislation and security certificate regime that has eroded civil liberties and altered intelligence, and immigration apparatus in the post 9/11 climate unsurprisingly remains unaddressed" further states Grewal. Security Certificates and the use of secret evidence mirror the PATRIOT Act of the US which fundamentally violates the rights of non-citizens and has been widely criticized including by various United Nations committees.

Dr. Mandeep Dhillon of the South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy calls on all federal politicians who are presenting themselves as advocates for immigrant communities to "stop the trend towards increasing deportation and the continuing scape-goating of immigrants and refugees." Dhillon further states, "Immigrant communities will not easily be persuaded by any empty federal election promises given the bleak history of human rights for immigrants."

3-Channel Video Installation
January 12th to 16th, 2006
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 12th, 2006 @ 7pm

Video In Studios / Satellite Video Exchange Society
604-872-8337 ext. 3, event@videoinstudios.com
Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 11am-6pm

Wake is a three-channel video installation that revolves around a contemporary,fictional, murder mystery that takes place in Vancouvers Hastings Park (now the Pacific National Exhibition Grounds). This area was once referred to as The Pool, a holding pen for Japanese Canadians during WWII.The short video vignettes in Wake formally utilize the Japanese literary form of the palm-of-hand story: a character-driven, short narrative that has no plot and leaves one with a sense of longing or desire.

A Detective (Hiro Kanagawa), interrogates a Witness (Maiko Bae Yamamoto) who is called forth to make a testimony around the mysterious death of an elderly woman. The unsettling effects of historical trauma haunt both the detective and the witness. They are caught in the paralysis of a subject that cannot be articulated through language.

Wake explores both the limits and possibilities of cultural memory, and the tenuous relationship between remembering and forgetting.

Wake is Cindy Mochizukis first year MFA project at Simon Fraser Universitys School For Contemporary Arts. This work will also be experienced as a sound walk at Hastings Park on January 27 and 28. For more information contact cmochizu@sfu.ca .

Cindy Mochizuki is an interdisciplinary artist that works in video, installation, performance, writing, and drawing. Her current body of work and research examines cultural memory, trauma, and history. She will be completing her MFA from SFU in the winter of 2006.

Video In Studios gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts, B.C. Arts Council and the City of Vancouver.

The Chinese Canadian National Council has demanded that the federal government verify the accuracy of its list of groups supposedly supporting its controversial head-tax deal. On November 24, Raymond Chan, Minister of State (Multiculturalism), announced an agreement in principle to provide an initial $2.5 million for the “Chinese-Canadian” community to acknowledge the impact of racist immigration legislation in the first half of the 20th century.

Read more at the Georgia Straight .

Vancouver human-rights activist Sid Tan has brought a message from one of the country’s last remaining head-tax payers before a parliamentary committee. Tan, spokesperson for the Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity Society, appeared before the Canadian Heritage committee on October 24 to criticize a private member’s bill on redress.

Read more at the Georgia Straight.

My name is Quan Song Now. I came to Canada in 1923. At that time, I paid the $500 head tax. This $500 head tax is unjust. As it was not applied to people from other parts of the world, it is discriminatory. I hope the government will refund the head tax in a fair way to all head taxpayers or their families. This is my sincere quest. I hope you accept my proposal.

Read more of Sid Chow Tan's oral presentation on bill C-333 in the pdf below.

Chinese-Cdn group slams feds

TORONTO (CP) - Ottawa is imposing "paternalistic" conditions on Chinese immigrants who want justice for the head tax they were once forced to pay, critics said Tuesday as they denounced a federal private member's bill meant to address their concerns.

The Chinese Canadian National Council said Bill C-333, which is making its way through Parliament, shuts out most of the community by designating one Chinese group to speak for all immigrants and their families.

Read more at canoe.ca.

tan_presentation.pdf

September 22 - Registration

September 23rd -  John Gordon, PSAC, National Executive Vice President opened the conference. He thanked the various committees for all their hard work, commitment and dedication. During the adoption of the agenda, the delegates moved that the Sunday Workshop sessions would only complete if that the resolutions were fully dealt with as much as possible. The rationale was that the last elections took several hours. These elections were for the National Equal Opportunities Representatives for the PSAC, reporting to the Alliance Executive Committee. Concerns that the elections would be lengthy in time and that there would not be adequate time available to address the resolutions. For the remainder of the day we listened to panel speakers speak on Leadership.

PSAC members sing Solidarity Forever at the opening of the Unity Conference

At lunch, we caucused as a region. This was an excellent opportunity to meet other people from the BC region. Amal Rana, BC Regional Education Officer was present and she briefly discussed encourage people to sign up for upcoming training. Also discussed was the NAIM and Conference Resolutions. The region will again meet on Sunday before Conference Closing.

After lunch, the Racially Visible Delegates met in their respective caucus. We talked about roles and responsibilities of the EOC Representative elected. We discussed the importance of communication, and it was also emphasized that leaders rely on their constituents provide input to the mandate of that representation. Communications are a challenge, and sometimes the structure of the PSAC National Leadership and the broadness of the structure with respect to other affected representatives, etc is challenging to integrate those communications.

After that caucus we adjourned to our assigned workshop. The workshop I was in was called " Combating Racism". We discussed about how common it is for RV people to discover at an early age that their racial individuality is visible to society, including other children. We discussed how social structures such as school curriculum has an impact on establishing Values and Beliefs. We discussed how our upbringing at home has an impact on how we develop those values and beliefs. We discussed the challenge of being a Union Activist, and the perception that the activist has to be seen as"holier than thou" in these issues, and the automatic membership expectation that we should immediately be able to know and understand each other's issues. Being that Union activists come from many cultures and walks of life, awareness and sensitivity is always at a heightened level. We further discussed about how cultural impacts will often create North American Discrimination, but the country of origin will not often see these western values as discriminatory. The Session did not continue on Sunday.

That evening, I met with NHWU EO Rep, Edmond Kwan. We discussed issues of Equity and lack thereof in 20017. Primarily we discussed the inappropriateness that as the EEAC Committee is Management driven, the structure for submitting these concerns is not handled by the committee. Instead they are handled privately and informally by the Chair of the EEAC. Therefore there is no record of these concerns, no protection for the complainant, etc. This grievance is currently at the second level, and Edmond will be keeping in touch regarding this issue. He indicated to me that this is a National Concern as well. We finally discussed the Unity Conference , as well as reviewed the NHWU National Convention.

September 24 - We listened to Key Note Speakers on globalization. Discussions talked about how government are less and less seen on the International front. Being that many policies need to have Government level, more and more questions are being asked. If the government were to delegate services privately, there would not be the public accountability. Not all provinces have accountability agencies, therefore there is no consistent accountability and the integrity in regulating these services is lost. There is a lack of resources available to protect Human Rights. The effectiveness of these agencies is reduced with no tools. Confusion and Complacency with respect to National Security is constantly visible. Discussion about Border Control. In one province, quotas and restrictions are being imposed. This means that if too many people are coming from a specific country to immigrate, only so many will be allowed. Discussion also about Internet Discrimination and Hate on the Internet. It was talked about the dangers of especially young and impressionable young people being exposed to this violence on the Internet Information Highway. Challenges expressed about how long it can take to fight this violence as a Human Rights Violation. The current structure is not strong and adequate enough to handle properly and within a timely fashion. What is needed is International Agreements and Government Resources to achieve the necessary tools to battle this violence. Discussion about how Indigenous lands are being used as toxic dumping sites and Patenting of Indigenous People's hair and blood samples. This all essentially means that Western Science has become unethical and inhumane. Indigenous people have become structurally unemployed and extreme racism has become very visible and a constant violation of Human Rights is occurring. Awareness that we need to be responsible socially and fight the oppression of Humanity.  Through the PSAC, we need to move forward in this struggle.

Later we heard from the PSAC National President, Nycole Turmel. Nycole Turmel talked about the Unity Conference is the last Conference in the Conference/Convention Cycle. As it is her last term in office, it is the last Unity Conference she will attend. She talked about the movements forward in increased Budget for Regional Human Rights Committees. She talked about how she supported that the Aboriginal and Racially Visible should have their own separate Conferences, recognizing that each individual group has unique needs and issues. She also went on to speak about the NAIM. She also discussed the importance of Equity Representation at Convention. She discussed International Solidarity through the Social Justice Fund. It works Internationally as well as in Canada. Canada is one of the riches countries globally, but still the rate of poverty is high. Aboriginal and Racially Visible still have the highest rate of unemployment. September 30, 2005 is the deadline for submitting funding requests for projects. The PSAC also has taken provisions to the Barging Table for recognition in the CA, including Elder Funeral attendance, 4 language recognition, etc. She further talked about the 1995-2000 cuts to the Human Rights Commission. She talked about PSMA. She talked about the new staffing benchmarks and how staffing authority will go to the lowest possible management authority. She talked about Services Canada and the Shared Services Organization. You as the Person Behind the Service will be greatly affected, not just the members who work in the new Service Canada Centres. We will continue to resist and protect our Brothers and Sisters, as the rights and working conditions need protection.

We went on to listen to a guest speaker on the CBC Locked out Employees. It was a challenge to even get the negotiators just to appear at the Negotiating Table, let along bargain in good faith. (sound familiar?) They are treating their employees like they are disposable. PSAC National Donated 500 Dollars to each the Locked out Workers in Telus, but also to the Locked out CBC Workers. The delegates pooled Donations as well. Attending National Component officers or reps of that office were also asked for consideration in donating.

We then heard a speaker from Canada Labour Congress who spoke strongly about the importance of solidarity and that concerns of the Union are shared concerns. Continuation in strengthening structures while enhancing our work will keep us strong. Eliminating Division is important and can be the best vehicle to move our issues forward and with resources, it can only add the needed strength.

We moved forward in to Resolutions Debate. These resolutions will need to be continued to be debated on at the PSAC May 2006 Triennial Convention in Toronto, Ontario. The delegate resolved concurrence that there be a separate conference for Aboriginal and Racially Visible Members.

It was resolved that the Unity Reference will be replaced with Aboriginal People and Racially Visible Persons.

It was resolved with Concurrence that in accordance with Aboriginal Customs, each major conference and event will begin and end with an Aboriginal Elder who will serve as the host elder at the opening and closing ceremonies. Concerns were expressed that this resolution eliminates the option of opening with Racially Visible ceremonies. 

It was resolved with concurrence that the PSAC increase funding for it's regional equity committees.

It was resolved with concurrence that 1 delegate per each equity group regionally will attend the PSAC Triennial Convention with full delegate status.

After lunch, we moved forward into Elections. The Racially Visible Female re-elected was Terri Lee, and the Racially Visible Male was Mastaki Sebuyange. Racially Visible Alternates are: Danielle Dubuk, Wesney Duclervil, Janice Seto, Shady Zekry, Rakhee Sajani, Ram Mudalier.

For the Aboriginals, the Reps are Vicki D., Andre P. Alternates include Michael Ballard, Tammy Davidson, Elijah, Geri Leblanc. Being that these elections were done in a separate caucus, I was am unable to provide the full names and complete list. A formal Conference report will include the full names and list.

The elections process was a long process, but an encouraging one. Many people stepped forward to be active, and I did not noticeably see what I consider "mean politicking" with hidden agendas, and campaign smearing, which I have seen in other elections.

September 25, 2005-Last day: Point of Personal Privilege: The Unity Conference raised 1855.00 for Locked out CBC Workers.

We moved forward into Continued debate of Resolutions. The delegation resolved with concurrence that the PSAC establish National Networks for each identified group and that a National Human Rights be put in place. This may take 2 Conventions to implement the VP portion of the resolution.

It was moved with concurrence that the PSAC develop a weekend course on Human Rights and Strategies in organizing Regional Human Rights Committees, and that it be available in all regions.

The delegation moved with concurrence that sensitivity training affecting Racially Visible members be created, and that the PSAC locate more funds for this training.

The BC Region gathered as a caucus and we talked about goal, commitments and visions as a Region. For myself I committed to working towards NHWU being formally recognized on the BCHRCommittee and establishing a Vancouver Island HRCommittee, with 3 different affiliated locals. I commit to sharing this report with all possible. I am available to do any work delegated to me.

In Conference Closing, on a point of privilege, announced was that a total of 2220.00 was raised for CBC Locked out Workers. At last moment the delegation moved that the Late Resolution number 2 be resolved.

It was moved and resolved with concurrence that Women's, Unity, Pride, Access and Health and Safety Conferences be granted the right to submit Collective Bargaining demands directly to the National Bargaining Conference for TB Units and all appropriate separate employer Bargaining Conferences and further resolved that Sections 15 and 17 and Regulation 15, and all other related sections of the PSAC Constitution and regulations be amended to now reflect these changes.

Before the elder closed the ceremony, John Gordon discussed about how the Unity Conference was successful, and how strategies will be formed to address these issues. He emphasized that Equity is a priority of PSAC.

In closing, I greatly enjoyed the conference, it was a great opportunity to network and learn about Aboriginal and Racially Visible Issues. I finally want to state that this certainly should not be considered any official PSAC or NHWU Unity Conference Report, and my views as opposed to actual events may be inaccurate.

In Loving Solidarity, Sister Mandi Schubert, Local President NHWU20017, website: http://www.psacbc.com/nhwu_20017

September 23 : the Georgia Straight

In a city saturated with bubble-tea houses and conversations in Cantonese, it’s easy to overlook the fact that this country once employed legislated discrimination against Asians. But what’s even more surprising is the lack of resolution to the Chinese head-tax issue.

It’s particularly unjust for a country that invited more than 10,000 Chinese immigrants to help build the Canadian Pacific railroad, and then, when the project was completed, turned around and slapped a $50 head tax on all Chinese Canadians. The tax was subsequently raised to $100 in 1900, then $500 in 1903. As if that wasn’t enough, the Chinese Immigration (Exclusion) Act came into effect from 1923 to 1947. The act restricted the flow of Chinese immigrants, thereby stifling the growth of Chinese Canadian communities, fracturing families, and creating economic and emotional hardships.

The Chinese Canadian National Council has fought for redress for more than 20 years and garnered support from the likes of Pierre Burton and United Nations special rapporteur on racism and xenophobia Doudou Diene. Yet while Japanese Canadians interned during the Second World War received redress in 1988 and even Ukrainian Canadians interned during the First World War received theirs on August 24 of this year, Chinese Canadian head-tax payers, of which only a handful are still living, remain uncompensated.

Enter 83-year-old Vancouverite Gim Wong, a Second World War Air Force veteran and Canadian-born son of two Chinese head-tax payers. Last year on July 1, Wong did a trial run on his motorcycle to Craigellachie, B.C.

This year, he left Mile 0 at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria in June on a cross-country ride to raise awareness, promote support, and take a petition asking Ottawa to compensate Chinese-Canadians for the $23 million collected from head-tax payers by paying $21,000 to each survivor and by starting a compensation negotiation process for descendents.

Unfortunately, Prime Minister Paul Martin has not responded to requests from the CCNC to discuss the issue. Nevertheless, the tenacious Wong did complete his long journey in Montreal on July 5, and will be honoured at the tenth anniversary party for Asian Canadian magazine Rice Paper here in Vancouver on September 24.

The Canadian Labour Congress has a vacancy in the position of National Director of the Anti-Racism and Human Rights Department at CLC Headquarters.

Download the poster below. Note that the application deadline is August 24th.

2005-08National_Director_Anti-Racism__Human_Rights_English.pdf

Taxi Drivers in the city of Toronto have come together to fight back against the anti-driver, anti-immigrant worker policies and laws that regulate their workplace and create an immigrant job ghetto.

The Toronto Coalition of Concerned Taxi Drivers is made up of independent drivers, Taxi Post, On-time Taxi, The Taxi Association of Toronto, and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. The Coalition's goal is to put an end to the harassment of taxi drivers including police targeting of cabs, random checks, and excessive ticketing.

Drivers face menacing work conditions and harassment by the city and police. Drivers work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and hardly make minimum wage because the city has been able to gouge drivers of any real income. Targetting of drivers continues to snowball, and the stories speak volumes of injustice and racism.  Recently, a Irani driver was stopped by police to be given a warning. Once the officer realized he was a Muslim, he was given a series of by-law infraction tickets and he now  faces losing his license.

This man has no other way to make a living. Drivers  and members of this coalition recently protested the unfair scooping of taxi fairs by limos in a rally at Queen's Park. Drivers were criminally charged after this demonstration. One driver was brutalized by police and is facing the loss of his license. Another driver was singled out as a taxi driver organizer by city bylaw officers and was handed a series of illegitimate fines. Because of the conditions faced by drivers daily, they cannot face these attacks alone, without solidarity and support. For many drivers, time in court means the loss of hard earned income. Taxi drivers have no choice but to do things that make them easy police targets, just in order to make a living.

Taxi drivers have been made vulnerable and have been treated as second class citizens, because they are mainly an immigrant workforce. This workforce is also the second largest revenue source for the city of Toronto. These day-to-day realities demand support from activists and concerned people. The Toronto Coalition of Concerned Taxi Drivers and the efforts of immigrant workers demanding justice need our solidarity.

To deal with the excessive tickets and criminal charges laid by abusive police, we are asking for support to carry this fight into the court rooms. This is a financial appeal to help taxi drivers create a Toronto Taxi Driver Defense Fund for  drivers who have been targeted by the police. The defense fund is strictly for support of those drivers working actively with the Toronto Coalition of Concerned Taxi Drivers. To support our work donations can be made to the Ontario Coalition against Poverty.

For more information or to support the Toronto Taxi Defense Fund contact: 647-219-9187/416-721-5555 or by email ocap@tao.ca  and eaglestaxi@yahoo.ca. Visit the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty here.

July 20th - Montreal. The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) today released a report, Lives on Hold, exposing the situation of people trapped in limbo in Canada:  unable to return to their country because of insecurity, they are equally  unable to acquire permanent residence in Canada.  The CCR calls on the  Canadian Government to resolve the problem by granting permanent residence  to people from moratoria countries.

July 19th

Tyson Foods, the owner of hugely profitable Lakeside Packers, has decided to gamble the Alberta economy by forcing a strike in order to bust a fledging union at its Brooks, Alberta packing house where working conditions are dangerous and unsanitary, and where workers are asking for nothing more than the standard industry contract and safeguards in place at other Canadian packing houses.

More than 2,000 workers at the Lakeside Packers plant in Brooks could be on strike as early as Monday, and many worry that a racially charged atmosphere could turn the labour dispute violent.

About 60 per cent of the employees at the town's biggest employer are immigrants, many from Sudan. Some believe local workers would report for work in the event of a strike, while the new Canadians remain on the picket line.

Read more at cbc.ca , and support the strikers at terribletyson.com. Both links

July 13th

For black feminist action research project on: AFRICAN CANADIAN WOMEN, INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONS AND SOCIAL CHANGE
 
10 hours per week, Sep 2005-May 2006. $20-25 per hour.

The project aims both to document the history of black women's activism in Canada, and to create a dialogue between young women and senior activists with the aim of sharing effective strategies for social change. The project is focused on Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver.

Tasks include coordinating team meetings, coordinating a national advisory community meeting, setting up and conducting focus groups and interviews, coordinating other RAs, compiling an archive of movement materials.

Demonstrated experience of community-based work within the African Canadian community essential.

Qualifications: PhD Candidate preferred.

Relevant skills and experience include: project management skills, excellent written and verbal communication, high level of organization, ability to work under own motivation, ability to set and meet deadlines and project goals, supervisory experience, experience of community based research, interviews and focus groups, experience of working with black community organizations, experience of working with black women,knowledge of black feminist literature; French.
 
Send resume and letter of application to:Julia Sudbury
Canada Research Chair in Social Justice, Equity and Diversity
 j.sudbury@utoronto.ca

June 7th

Gim Foon Wong has a dream of riding his motorcycle across Canada.

He will try to fulfil his dream and bring a message to all Canadians about Canada's infamous Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Acts and the devastation they caused Chinese Canadian families over generations.

"I want to do this ride for the Chinese railway workers and all those Chinese pioneers. I want to do this ride for my good friend Charlie Quan, who is a 98-year old Head Tax payer living in Vancouver. I want to do this ride for my family. This is a pensioner's call on the on the government to quit dragging its feet. This ride is about respect for the generations of Chinese Canadians who build this country. It's time for the government to apologize and redress the Head Tax and Exclusion Act."

Chinese workers made a major contribution to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).  Chinese labourers were paid about half the wages of other railway workers, and often performed the most dangerous tasks. After the CPR was completed in 1885, due to racist public sentiment, the Canadian government imposed a "Head Tax" on Chinese immigrants.  In 1923, the Canadian government passed the Chinese Immigration Act, which virtually excluded all persons of Chinese descent from coming to Canada.  This "Chinese Exclusion Act" was not repealed until 1947.

The 24 years of Chinese exclusion served to separate families, condemn generations of men to a life of isolation and loneliness, and acutely impede the economic and political development of Chinese communities in Canada.

The Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC) is proud to be one of the sponsors of Gim Wong's Ride For Redress and calls on the Canadian Government to redress individuals who were affected by the Head Tax and to recognize the suffering experienced by the families and the impact on the Chinese Canadian community. Many of the affected seniors are over ninety years old and redress will lose much of its meaning if they do not survive to receive it.

Read more at globeandmail.com

Those wishing to assist or make a donation to Gim Wong's Ride for Redress, can do so by contacting:

Chinese Canadian National Council
302 Spadina Street, Suite 507, Toronto, Ontario, Canada  M5T 2E7
Phone: 416.977.9871 Fax: 416.977.1630
Website: www.ccnc.ca/redress
Email: national@ccnc.ca

Please make cheques payable to "Chinese Canadian National Council"

On May 23rd, 1914, the Komagata Maru, a Japanese ship carrying three hundred and seventy-six Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus arrived in the port of Vancouver. As subjects of the Crown, they believed they had the legal right to settle in one of the Empire’s territories. Instead, the passengers lived like prisoners for two months, threatened by famine and disease as the ship was refused permission to land.

The DOXA Documentary Film & Video Festival is pleased to announce that it will open its 2005 Festival with Ali Kazimi's groundbreaking new film about the Komagata Maru, Continuous Journey. Join us at the Vogue Theatre on May 24th, 2005, as we welcome Mr. Kazimi and other distinguished guests to this local premiere.

Visit doxafestival.ca for more information

Roots, Rhymes and Resistance 7 - Ipagpatuloy: Living the Storm, An evening of cultural expression by Filipino youth in Canada.

Saturday, May 21, 2005 at the Western Front Artist Run Centre, 303 east 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Doors open 6:30PM, Show starts at 7PM

Tickets are now available for $10, kids under 7 get in free.
hurry! space is limited. For more information, or to order tickets contact: 604-215-1103 or ukpc_fcya@kalayaancentre.net

From Jennie Chu, EO Rep. for Agriculture Component.

I want to thank all of you for being a part of our Head Tax struggle and I believed PSAC played a vital role in moving the issue along. I am attaching a file ( below) with PSAC chronology of its involvement. Appendix D: The new federal budget of $25 million dollars (once signed might be good) is meant to commemorate of the Chinese Head Tax and the Internment of Ukrainian-Canadians during the First World War.

Read Jennie's report below.

Kudo_EO_committee_Revised.pdf

Friends,

December 10 marks International Human Rights Day. Two years ago on International Human Rights Day, Mohamed Harkat, an Algerian refugee, was arrested in Ottawa, and has been in jail, without charge or bail on secret "evidence" neither he nor his lawyer is allowed to see, ever since. He is one of five Muslim men held under Canada's secret trial process. Mohammad Mahjoub (held since June, 2000), Mahmoud Jaballah (August, 2001), Hassan Almrei (solitary confinement since October, 2001), and Adil Charkaoui (May 2003) all face deportation to torture.

The three committees working on secret trials are gathering the names of organizations and individuals to be publicly presented December 10 in Ottawa for the following statement. We would ask that you take this statement to your organization for endorsement and send endorsements to: EndorseStatement@yahoo.ca

If signing as an individual, please include your geographic location and position (where relevant)

Thanks so much!

Matthew Behrens, (Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada, in conjunction with the Coalition for Justice for Adil Charkaoui and Committee for Justice for Mohamed Harkat)

PS: Please remember to participate in the National Day of Action Against Secret Trials, Friday, December 10, across Canada!

Statement Against Secret Trial Security Certificates

We, the undersigned, have grave concerns regarding the continued use of sections 9, 76-87 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which allow for the imprisonment in Canada of refugees and permanent residents under the authority of a "Security Certificate":

We are particularly concerned that those detained under security certificates are:

• Being imprisoned indefinitely on secret evidence, though no charges have been laid against them;
• Tried in unfair trials where the evidence is not disclosed to the detainee or their lawyer;
• Denied the right to appeal when the certificate is upheld in a process that uses the lowest standard of proof of any court in Canada;
• Subject to deportation even when they face unfair imprisonment, torture or death.

We believe that the Security Certificate process is undemocratic and that it violates fundamental human rights, which the government of Canada has committed itself to through the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention on Refugees, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the UN Convention on Torture.

Accordingly, we demand that the Security Certificate process be abolished.

For those currently imprisoned under security certificates, we demand:

• That they be released immediately; or, if any case against them actually exists, that they be allowed to defend themselves in open, fair and independent trials with full disclosure of the case against them.
• That they not be deported.
  

Head Tax Documentary Premieres this Sunday, Nov. 21st, 2004 at Firehall Arts Centre, 280 E. Cordova St., Vancouver BC

Reference:http://www.onf.ca/intheshadowofgoldmountain/

Due to limited seating for this Saltwater City premiere of a significant film by writer/director/narrator Karen Cho about Chinese head tax and exclusion redress. She will be in attendance. Many of you know Saltwater City is the Lo Wah Kiu (old overseas Chinese) name for Vancouver. The redress campaign to now has been predominantly a Lo Wah Kiu story.

Charlie Quan, Roy Mah, Gim Wong and Hanson Lau, all Greater Vancouver residents, are featured in the film. There are also segments with Margaret Mitchell, the former Van East MP who brought brought this to Parliament and Libby Davies, the current Van East MP still pursuing redress on behalf of constituents. Also with shots on camera are current federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, former Vancuver councillor Tung Chan, current Vancouver councillor Ellen Woodsworth and Mary-Woo Sims, former Chief Commissioner of the B. C. Human Rights Commission.

Media Advisory - October 13, 2004

In the Shadow of Gold Mountain Gets Vancouver Premiere:
Film Features Local Chinese Canadian Activists and Leaders

Where: Firehall Arts Centre, 280 East Cordova, Vancouver

When:  10:30 am or 4:00pm, Sunday, November 21, 2004 (Pick up tickets here)

Film-maker in attendance. Seating Limited. Advanced Reservation requested. By donation - suggested $5.00.

Written, directed and narrated by Karen Cho, this 43-minute National Film Board production sheds light on an era that shaped the identity of generations of Chinese in Canada. Ms. Cho, a fifth-generation Canadian of mixed heritage, uncovers stories from the last survivors of the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Acts from 1885-1947. Moving testimonials reveal the profound ways this history still casts its shadow.

This Vancouver film premiere is presented by the Vancouver Association of Chinese Canadians with the assistance of the Chinese Canadian National Council and National Anti-Racism Council of Canada.

Those who receive this post can email to jennie.chu@3web.net or call Sid Tan home/office at 604-433-6169 for a crack at two advance tickets.

May 13th

Special screening of “Made in Canada”

6:30 pm, Tuesday, May 25

B.C. Federation of Labour (200 - 5118 Joyce St. Van.)

Sweatshops aren’t limited to the Third World. This CBC documentary examines the exploitation of workers in the Canadian garment industry.

PANEL DISCUSSION. REFRESHMENTS. BRING A FRIEND!

Presented by the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance (ACLA)