Canada's 'New Era' of Immigration: Same Old US Xenophobia, North of the Border
Canada’s Liberal government is pushing Bill C-12, which the Guardian describes as ushering in 'US-style border policies,' fueling xenophobia. This isn't a new phenomenon; it's a polite rebranding of the same old 'fortress nation' rhetoric we've seen south of the border for decades, now with a maple leaf on it. One might recall similar legislative pushes in the US following 9/11, where 'security'
quickly became a synonym for 'excluding the undesirable,' often with little actual impact on real threats but significant impact on human rights. Instead of addressing the root causes of displacement, like climate change or conflict—which Canadian foreign policy, for example, contributes to through resource extraction and arms sales—Ottawa opts for border militarization. It's truly a marvel how
politicians worldwide can simultaneously lament humanitarian crises and then legislate against the very people fleeing them. 'Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System' indeed. Perhaps they mean strengthening its walls and weakening its conscience.