The Christian Heritage Party of Canada has released an immigration policy calling for tighter eligibility controls for immigrants – particularly those coming from Muslim countries and cultures that have embraced radical Islamic beliefs.
In an open letter to South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale MP Russ Hiebert, released Wednesday, Mike Schouten, CHP candidate in the riding, has called for a tougher government position on immigrants whose beliefs are inimical to the Canadian Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
But Hiebert responded Thursday that he believes that safeguards on human rights – including the rights and responsibilities of immigrants – are inherent in the Canadian system and do not require further underlining.
“We have religious freedom in Canada,” he told the Peace Arch News. “Everyone is free to practise the religion of their choice, but at the same time, regardless of their country of origin, every Canadian is expected to obey the laws of Canada – full stop.”
In his earlier statement, Schouten said it is “naive to think that all cultures are compatible with Canadian values” – quoting, as an example, a dictate from the most conservative school of the Sharia (Islamic religious code) that “those who renounce Islam be put to death by the faithful.”
“It’s never just, never lawful in Canada for a group to abridge the rights and freedoms of any other Canadian, regardless of their current or former relationship to that group,” he said.
Noting Hiebert’s position as a member of the International Human Rights subcommittee, Schouten said the MP has “an obligation to uphold the rights of all people, including immigrants to Canada.”
“I’m calling on Mr. Hiebert to show some leadership here,” Schouten told Peace Arch News on Thursday. “Canada is in a unique position here – we can observe what has been happening in Europe and we still have the opportunity to take action.
“It’s important to note that Mr. Hiebert is involved in the aspect of human rights that includes our soldiers fighting in Afghanistan so that Afghans have their rights. What about ensuring that human rights are practised in our own country?”
But Hiebert said human-rights issues within Canada come under the purview of the Justice and Human Rights Committee – of which he is not a member.
“I have been assigned to the International Human Rights subcommittee, which is tasked explicitly with human-rights issues outside of Canada. We won’t encroach on that (other) committee.
“I hear what Mr. Schouten is saying but the focus of our subcommittee is the abuse of human rights that’s happening in places like Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan. The evidence of abuse we’re hearing is unbelievable – and I’m not going to apologize for raising issues and advocating on behalf of those people.”
But Schouten is adamant that the question of immigration policy – particularly as it relates to groups holding radical beliefs – must be addressed.
“We have an enviable position, as far as European leaders are concerned,” he said
“We can read the signs and do something before it gets to be the kind of problem that’s being faced in Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany.”
Schouten also noted British Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent speech to the Munich Security Conference, in which, he said, Cameron had signaled a “marked change in policy” to Britain’s ethnic and religious minorities, and that the “hands-off tolerance” of those who reject Western values has failed.
“Prime Minister Cameron’s acknowledgement that multiculturalism has, in essence, been a failure shows just how complacent the West has been toward radical Islam.
“Many people feel this is a issue that needs to be discussed, albeit a sensitive topic,” Schouten said, adding that such discussion should not be viewed as a “backlash” against followers of Islam, but rather a protection of Canadian ideals that include freedom of all religions – including Islam.
“Canada has a great identity that accommodates many kinds of world views and faiths,” he said.
