愛污传媒

Politics

    • LGBTQ2S+ group urges Canada to help resettle people trapped in their own country, including Afghanistan

    Share
    TORONTO -

    Now that the federal election campaign has ended, it's time for the government to get back to work, which includes refocusing on international aid and building partnerships with humanitarian organizations.

    Among those organizations is Rainbow Railroad, an international charity based in Canada that provides pathways to safety for persecuted members of the LGBTQ2S+ community all over the world.

    Due to the losses of three of his ministers on election day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be forced to shuffle his cabinet, which is expected to be followed by fresh mandate letters issued to each ministry.

    Rainbow Railroad is pushing for the next letter sent to the immigration minister to include a mandate to establish a refugee stream for internally displaced members of the international LGBTQ2S+ community.

    "We've long been making the case to this government and to all parliamentarians that LGBTQI+ people are uniquely vulnerable when they're in their countries of persecution," Kimahli Powell, executive director of Rainbow Railroad, told CTVNews.ca on Tuesday. "There are 70 countries that have , and those conditions create really dangerous contexts for this community."

    A number of countries have also criminalized the expression and gender identity of transgender people and the sex characteristics of intersex people.

    There are over around the world who have been displaced from their homes for a variety of reasons, including armed conflict, persecution, famine or other disasters, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. About , meaning they've been displaced from their homes but have not crossed an international border seeking refuge.

    Although there are programs, such as the , that provide resettlement assistance to LGBTQ2S+ refugees who have been able to flee their country, there are still many people "who cannot, because of persecution, state-sponsored conflict or homophobia, cross land borders," Powell said.

    "Rainbow Railroad fields roughly three to four thousand requests per year, and the vast majority who come to us for help are internally displaced persons (IDPs)," he said. "This policy will allow us to identify people at acute risk who are in need of support, because if the Government of Canada really, as it has stated, wants to be a leader in LGBTQI+ rights globally, understanding the needs of this population is crucial."

    Asked for the reason existing resettlement programs first require refugees to flee their country, the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told CTVNews.ca: "A legal framework enabling the systematic and ongoing resettlement of IDPs does not presently exist under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Canada's Resettlement Program is aligned with international practices that focus on the resettlement of refugees outside their home country. By definition, in international and domestic law, a refugee must be outside of their country of origin or habitual residence."

    Rainbow Railroad has tabled for the federal government to enable the resettlement of internally displaced LGBTQ2S+ people.

    The first is to make it a part of the next immigration minister's mandate to implement a dedicated resettlement stream for internally displaced LGBTQ2S+ people, which includes a crisis response plan for those who need immediate help in emergency situations.

    "Afghanistan is a perfect example of why we need a crisis response plan," Powell said. There have been with members saying they are being hunted down now that the Taliban have taken control of the country. "We had requests for help prior to the fall of Kabul."

    Between the fall of the capital and the Aug. 31 withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, Rainbow Railroad provided support to 200 people who reached out seeking evacuation. That number has since grown to 700, Powell said.

    "We have been actively working with other NGOs in Afghanistan and identifying people at risk, providing immediate support to people at risk and providing evacuation support," he said.

    The second recommendation made by the organization is to extend existing policy mechanisms to support displaced people and refugees, including the prioritization of LGBTQ2S+ asylum seekers. For example, Powell said the government could expand the , which expedites the resettlement process for refugees whose lives are in immediate danger, to include those who are internally displaced as the program currently only applies to those who have crossed an international border.

    The government can also issue more "temporary residence permits, or have the new minister use their authority to help people get into Canada," he said. "Those are all tools that the Government of Canada has at their disposal right now."

    The immigration ministry acknowledged the existence of mechanisms to help internally displaced populations in emergency situations.

    "To respond to unique circumstances faced by a specific population, a public policy can be implemented to enable the resettlement of IDPs as a life-saving measure," the ministry said, citing a temporary humanitarian policy put in place in 2017 to resettle ISIS survivors, particularly women and children in Northern Iraq. "While there is no systematic or ongoing resettlement of IDPs, the Government of Canada currently provides support to IDPs typically through development programs that are funded through Global Affairs Canada."

    The third recommendation made by Rainbow Railroad is to establish a formal partnership with Rainbow Railroad to support the identification, processing and resettling of LGBTQ2S+ refugees.

    "We have already been doing the work of identifying people at extreme risk," Powell said. "We also have the tools to help support evacuation efforts."

    Powell is hopeful the new government will be receptive to his organization's recommendations and be willing to work together to provide safety to displaced and persecuted members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

    "One of the things that was encouraging is that all the parties committed to some degree of support to LGBTQI+ refugees and persons," he said of the latest federal election campaign. "We have clear expectations on what the next government needs to do, and we intend to work with the government and hold them accountable to supporting LGBTQI+ people who are displaced."

    With files from CTVNews.ca writer Christy Somos 

    IN DEPTH

    Opinion

    opinion

    opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

    When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.

    Montreal police say a business in the city's Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood was hit with Molotov cocktails two nights in a row.

    Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

    Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'

    New data shows the automated speed enforcement camera on King Edward Avenue, between Bolton Street and St. Patrick Street, issued 6,337 speeding tickets in August, the highest number of tickets issued by Ottawa's 40 photo radar cameras.

    Ontario Provincial Police have laid stunt charges against a driver caught speeding 75 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end.

    Canada

    • Montreal police say a business in the city's Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood was hit with Molotov cocktails two nights in a row.

    • Ontario Provincial Police have laid stunt charges against a driver caught speeding 75 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end.

    • The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.

    • New data shows the automated speed enforcement camera on King Edward Avenue, between Bolton Street and St. Patrick Street, issued 6,337 speeding tickets in August, the highest number of tickets issued by Ottawa's 40 photo radar cameras.

    • The two people who died in a major fire in Old Montreal on Friday were a mother and her seven-year-old daughter, sources told Noovo Info.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    • A five-seat sushi counter located inside another restaurant is the latest Vancouver eatery to receive a Michelin star.

    • What does New Westminster's t蓹m蓹sew虛tx史 Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

    Sports

    • According to the Canadian Women & Sport's 2022 Rally Report, 76 per cent of girls who participate in sports believe it helps build confidence and enhances their mental health. While those benefits are important for all children, the organization's CEO says, right now, girls have less access.

    Autos

    • A Pickering, Ont., student going to college to be a mechanic is shocked the engine in his two-year-old car will not be repaired under warranty after the dealership claimed he had been 'over-revving' the engine.

    • A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.

    Local Spotlight

    Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.

    From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.

    A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.

    The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.

    A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.

    Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north

    What does New Westminster's t蓹m蓹sew虛tx史 Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

    The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.

    New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.

    • The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.

    • The leaders of both British Columbia's provincial Conservatives and New Democrats are in the Okanagan campaigning today.

    • Two pedestrians have been taken to hospital with unknown injuries after an early-morning collision in Vaughan.

    • A Toronto city councillor is calling for a public inquiry into the construction of the delayed and over-budget Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

    • An investigation is underway into what caused a vehicle rollover Saturday in the area of Plummers Road and Priddis Valley Road.

    • A pedestrian is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle in southeast Calgary on Friday night.

    • Environment Canada has issued a frost advisory as temperatures across Ottawa and eastern Ontario are expected to dip near the freezing mark this evening.

    • New data shows the automated speed enforcement camera on King Edward Avenue, between Bolton Street and St. Patrick Street, issued 6,337 speeding tickets in August, the highest number of tickets issued by Ottawa's 40 photo radar cameras.

    • Ontario Provincial Police have laid stunt charges against a driver caught speeding 75 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end.

    • The two people who died in a major fire in Old Montreal on Friday were a mother and her seven-year-old daughter, sources told Noovo Info.

    • Montreal police say they are increasing their presence across the city ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 start of the Israel-Hamas war.

    • Montreal police say a business in the city's Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood was hit with Molotov cocktails two nights in a row.

    • Forward Arshdeep Bains hopes his final audition was good enough to earn him a spot in the Vancouver Canucks cast when the curtain opens on the NHL regular season.

    • A 79-year-old woman is dead after the vehicle she was driving crashed into an east Edmonton building late Friday afternoon.

    • Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jack Campbell has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

    • A riding in southwest New Brunswick that for decades was a Progressive Conservative stronghold is shaping up to be a bellwether that could offer a window into the future of the Tory party, and maybe of the province.

    • The Greater Moncton area held open houses on Saturday to kick off Fire Prevention Week.

    • A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

    • It鈥檚 1998. Google was just born, and dial-up was the primary way to connect to the Internet. New sites were being developed daily on any number of topics, from recipes to shopping. David Yanciw, however, was thinking big - big things, that is.

    • Emergency crews are at the scene of a single motor vehicle collision on Highway 12 in the RM of Brokenhead, Man.

    • A new report from Doctors Manitoba is calling for major changes to the way sick notes are issued in Manitoba, saying they are a waste of time for doctors and employers.

    • Regina police are investigating after guns were fired at two homes last week, with one home being shot at on multiple occasions.

    • A wind warning has been issued for parts of southern Saskatchewan, with gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour (km/h) possible in some areas on Saturday, Environment and Climate Change Canada says.

    • Police have laid charges after a car crashed into the side of a Kitchener home early Friday morning.

    • Officers were called at around 11 p.m. Friday for a report of a disturbance in the area of Glasgow Street and Earl Street.

    • The K-W Symphony may have played their last concert but the musicians who made up the ensemble aren鈥檛 ready for their curtain call.

    • The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation hosted a virtual election forum on education Thursday evening, giving candidates in the provincial election a chance to share their thoughts and answer questions on issues teachers find most important.

    • A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.

    • Saskatoon police arrested a homeless person at the scene of an encampment underneath the University Bridge on Friday morning.

    • Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

    • Oct. 4 is the National Day of Action for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people.

    • As of 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, The West Region OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), Emergency Response Team (TEAM) and OPP K9 Unit were operating in the area but have since cleared.

    • The London Knights were on home ice last night, hoping to secure their first win of the season at Budweiser Gardens against the Erie Otters.

    • Three people from Simcoe County face charges in relation to a drug trafficking investigation that police say resulted in the seizure of several weapons, drugs and thousands of dollars worth of stolen property.

    • A 62-year-old man has been charged after police received a report about an employee stealing over $60,000 worth of materials from a Huntsville business.

    • A man is facing multiple charges after reportedly threatening to harm staff members at an Orillia business Friday afternoon.

    • The first step in the plan was speaking to frontline workers and getting their feedback. "Overwhelmingly, they said they would like to see health-care services on-site," Bondy said.

    • According to police, the suspect entered and vandalized the property in the 700 block of Grand Marais Road Easton on September 28.

    • A motor vehicle collision at Wyandotte Street East and George Avenue has Windsor police on the scene this morning.

    • We haven't heard the candidates talk much about education during B.C.'s 2024 election campaign, but the teachers' union is trying to put the spotlight on that issue.

    • The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.

    • Many British Columbians were shaken awake early Friday morning when an earthquake struck in the Strait of Georgia, about 18 kilometres southwest of Tsawwassen.

    • The leaders of both British Columbia's provincial Conservatives and New Democrats are in the Okanagan campaigning today.

    • Three young suspects have been arrested in connection with a swarming attack on a teenager in B.C.'s Okanagan last week 鈥 and authorities have asked the public to stop circulating disturbing videos of the incident.

    • A father in Kelowna is furious after his 13-year-old daughter was brutally beaten on Gyro Beach. He is calling for criminal charges in the devastating attack, which was caught on video by multiple bystanders.

    • A person was airlifted to hospital following a serious crash in Taber, Alta., on Friday morning. Taber RCMP responded to the scene on Highway 864 around 10:30 a.m., for a crash involving an SUV and a semi-truck.

    • To enhance inclusivity at Lethbridge Polytechnic, the institution has launched a new accessibility micro-credential.

    • WestJet has changed its operations at the Lethbridge Airport, and it means there's now only a single daily flight from Lethbridge to Calgary, down from three flights a day, as offered previously.

    • Two teens, ages 14 and 19, have been charged with arson in connection with a July 14 fire in Cat Lake First Nation that destroyed $500,000 in construction materials.

    • A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.

    • A suspect who accused Thunder Bay police of being responsible for his throat injury actually hurt himself when he swallowed a large amount of drugs.

    N.L.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 愛污传媒