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We attended a very good emergency community meeting in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood last night, which I'll write about later today. When I returned home, I learned that war resister Cliff Cornell has decided to surrender himself to the US authorities, rather than face forcible removal. This means he is not officially deported from Canada, so he would be able to return at some point, on a visitor visa. There are also other reasons why leaving of his own volition is a better option for him. Cliff's many supporters on Gabriola Island are planning a send-off. And it's our job to raise hell on the phone lines today. I've heard from many supporters that this strategy - calling and emailing Jason Kenney and Stephen Harper - is useless. I understand that it may appear that way, because it does not produce immediate results, and the Conservatives do not appear to be listening. But that's not true. They are listening. Jason Kenney's outbursts, calling the war res...

From today's press conference: Liberal and New Democrat MPs pledged Wednesday that U.S. war resisters would not be deported under a coalition government. Five Americans could face deportation by the end of the month unless there's a last-minute court reprieve or an unexpected policy change by the federal government. Liberal Mario Silva and New Democrat Olivia Chow said their parties would protect war resisters if Stephen Harper's government were to fall after next week's budget. Silva invoked the words of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, who during the Vietnam War said "Canada should be a refuge from militarism." "To all those brave men and women who have in fact objected to (the Iraq) war we say, bravo. We say welcome, you should be here in Canada," Silva said at a news conference in Toronto, which was attended by several war resisters and their young families. The House of Commons passed a motion last June 3 calling for a stop to deportations ...

The federal court has denied a stay of removal to war resister Cliff Cornell. He has been ordered to leave Canada tomorrow or face forcible removal. Supporters in BC are raising hell. Stay tuned. * * * * Jam the phone lines. Flood in the inboxes. Take to the streets. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney 613.954.1064 (Ministry office) / 613.992.2235 (Parliamentary Office) minister@cic.gc.ca / Kenney.j@parl.gc.ca [If you email Kenney, please cc the opposition party critics] Liberal party immigration critic Borys Wrzesnewskyj: wrzesnewskyj.b@parl.gc.ca NDP immigration critic Olivia Chow: chow.o@parl.gc.ca Bloc Québécois immigration critic Thierry St-Cyr: st-cyr.t@parl.gc.ca The Right Hon. Stephen Harper 613.992.4211 pm@pm.gc.ca

On the day a person of colour was becoming President of the United States, a busload of young black Canadians was detained at the border for seven hours , including being photographed and fingerprinted. And what a surprise, the people questioned were named Mohammed and wearing hijabs. A group of young black Canadians on their way to see Barack Obama sworn into office say they were detained for seven hours at the U.S. border on Monday because of religious and racial stereotyping as their passports were checked and rechecked. They eventually made it to Washington yesterday to see the inauguration of the 44th president. Tyrone Edwards, organizer of the three-bus trip to Washington for black youth involved in the Toronto-based Remix Project, a cultural non-profit group, said 168 people from local non-profit groups made the 800-kilometre trek. The buses left Toronto on Monday morning but were stopped at the Peace Bridge just outside Buffalo at around 1 p.m. Speaking to the Star by phone, E...

There was a very positive story about the war resisters in yesterday's Toronto Sun and other Sun papers. It may seem surprising for that right-wing rag, but it's not the first positive story they've run about the resisters. The print edition also had a great big picture of Kim Rivera and her baby. Mom of 3 faces jail U.S. Iraq war resister among 5 set for deportation By Jason Buckland, Sun Media The January weather isn't as pleasant as her native Texas, but U.S. Iraq war resister Kimberley Rivera wants desperately to stay. With her 7-week-old daughter, Katie, strapped close to her chest, the first known female war resister to seek re-fuge in Canada faces deportation next week. Rivera was joined by supporters at Nathan Phillips Square yesterday for the kick-off of "Let Them Stay Week" in support of five U.S. Iraq War resisters in Canada set to be returned to the States during the next 10 days. The mother of three faces deportation -- and possible jail time --...

We enter Day Three of Let Them Stay Week with anger, sadness and renewed determination. We are angry that the Harper Government is defying democracy and human compassion, frustrated that a few judges in the federal court are allowing them to do so, and determined to keep up our fight until we win. As you've heard, war resister Chris Teske was granted a three-day extension so that he can depart Canada from a border crossing closer to his home. It is possible there will be some kind of relief between now and Friday, his deportation date, but unlikely. We are still waiting to hear the court's decision on stays of deportation for Cliff Cornell and Kim Rivera. If you live in or near Toronto, London or Vancouver, you can attend a Let Them Stay Week event tonight. Go here for details. People are also leafletting and organizing vigils in many other cities, from St. John's to Nanaimo. Get in touch with your local peace group for details. Tonight, in Toronto , come out to Parkdale t...

We've just learned that Chris Teske has been granted a three-day reprieve from the CBSA. Chris requested that his deportation take place closer to his home. That request was granted, and now the appropriate paperwork is being filed and sent. Keep the faith. Let's use these three days to fight, fight, fight on behalf of Chris and all war resisters in Canada. These deportations need to stop and they need to stop now. Your calls, emails and letters are needed now more than ever.