Proposed immigration changes 'racist,' B.C. protesters say
Last Updated: Sunday, June 1, 2008 | 7:51 PM PT
CBC News
Protesters say the proposed immigration changes could deny admission to applicants already approved by immigration officers. (CBC)About 70 people gathered in Surrey, B.C., on Sunday to protest a controversial government bill that would give more power to the federal immigration minister to approve or deny immigration applications.
Bill C-50, which will amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, is a "racist policy" and, if passed, will endow Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley too much arbitrary power, said Tammy Sadeghi, a spokesperson for the protesters.
"They can stop you from coming. They give a lot of power to the minister to accept or reject," Sadeghi told CBC News.
"She also can consider the background or the country of origin of the immigrants trying to come to Canada."
Proposed amendments would allow the federal government to fast-track applications from the types of immigrants it wants, such as skilled workers, and freeze applications from others.
Admission could also be denied to applicants already approved by immigration officers, Sadeghi said.
Finley has said the proposed bill is needed to deal with a backlog of immigration applications.
The Conservative government hopes to pass the bill this week.
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