People’s Commission to launch hearings Sept. 21, Author, activist Monia Mazigh joins team of Commissioners
OTTAWA (Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022) — The Ottawa People’s Commission on the Convoy Occupation is pleased to announce its first public hearings will be held Sept. 21 and 22 at community centres in Centretown and Lowertown — two of the neighbourhoods most adversely affected by the trucker blockade that paralyzed parts of the national capital for three weeks last winter.
- The Sept. 21 hearing will take place at the McNabb Community Centre, 180 Percy Street, from 2-4 p.m.
- The Sept. 22 hearing will be held in Le Patro d’Ottawa at 40 Cobourg Street, from 7-9 p.m.
The OPC is also announcing the addition of a fourth Commissioner — author and human rights activist Monia Mazigh — to the lineup of distinguished individuals who will oversee a series of public hearings and community consultations throughout the fall.
Mazigh and the other commissioners — housing rights advocate Leilani Farha, human rights lawyer Alex Neve and social justice activist Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah — plan to produce a final report by early 2023 with recommendations aimed at rebuilding trust and accountability in a city deeply traumatized by the convoy occupation.
“I’m proud to join this group of commissioners in providing a forum for Ottawa residents to share their experiences of the occupation,” said Mazigh, who is also an adjunct professor of literature at Carleton University. “We see these hearings as a venue for healing and for justice and we’re committed to creating a safe space where community members can come forward to tell their stories”
Mazigh is an award-winning author who writes in French and English. Her latest novel, Farida, won the Ottawa Book Award for French fiction. Her new memoir, My personal journey with a ‘Scar…f’, will be published in 2023.
Mazigh has campaigned and raised funds for affordable housing and serves as ‘godmother’ for a scholarship fund for young refugees from the Middle East living in Gatineau. She sits on the boards of the Rideau Institute, Ottawa Muslim Women’s Organization, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Association des Auteures et Auteurs de l’Ontario français. Monia is a member of the International Advisory Council for the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.
Unlike the federal inquiries that focus on the Emergencies Act or the City auditor’s study on the impact on services, the Ottawa People’s Commission is a grassroots initiative that centres the experience and concerns of the people who live and work in the neighbourhoods affected by the convoy occupation.
Community members who wish to appear before the Commission at these or future hearings are asked to register through the Commission’s website, opc-cpo.ca.
The commissioners will gather testimony through both in-person and online public gatherings between September and December. Special consultations with affected communities will also take place. And written submissions are being accepted through the commission’s website, opc-cpo.ca.
The Commission is funded by donations from the public, foundations, businesses, unions, and local agencies committed to rebuild and renew our community. Donations can be made at opc-cpo.ca.
For more information visit opc-cpo.ca or contact:
Gaëlle Muderi, OPC Project Coordinator
Randy Boswell, OPC Communications Coordinator
rleighboswell@gmail.com or 613-868-8447
Tim McSorley, French-language media contact
tim.mcsorley@gmail.com or 613-608-9917
Commission
The idea for a people’s commission originated with freedom-of-information advocate and community activist, Ken Rubin. But momentum quickly grew as different parts of the community expressed concern that during and since the occupation, their views had been largely ignored and their losses forgotten.
Centretown Community Health Centre (CCHC) was approached to see if this fit with their programs and services. Throughout the occupation, CCHC staff, clients and community members spoke about the importance of having a forum to share their lived experiences in a meaningful way that would contribute to changes in how future disruptions could be better managed. CCHC took on this important initiative, working with local residents to bring their vision of a People’s Commission to life.
Why a People’s Commission?
Local residents were traumatized by the three-and-a-half-week convoy occupation of our city, leaving a community in need of healing and justice.
People were looking for a venue to address that trauma and their losses – but also to hold to account those that failed to end the occupation and protect public health and safety.
Official inquiries at the local and federal level were limited in their scope and ambition. They gave no confidence there would be a substantive, independent review – or that residents’ voices and views would be heard.
OPC goals
- inspire hope and healing
- hear from affected community members
- identify underlying issues and enduring solutions
- press authorities
- promote lasting benefits and community-led solutions
How OPC worked
With a focus on accountability to the community, OPC chronicled what happened and failed to happen during and after the convoy – and its impact on residents, workers and businesses.
Through community consultations and public hearings – presided over by independent Commissioners – information was gathered and recommendations forged.
Public hearings were held through the fall of 2022. Part I of OPC’s report — What we heard — was released to coincide with the one year anniversary of the occupation. Part II, offering further analysis and recommendations for action, was released in April 2023.
OPC worked to be open, transparent and accountable to the community.
Advisory Committee
Oversight and support to OPC was provided by an Advisory Committee which included:
- Lew Auerbach
- Randy Boswell
- Albert Dumont
- Robert Fox
- Patricia Harewood
- Caitlin Kealey
- Brenda Knight
- Zexi Li
- Tim McSorley
- Sheila Perry
- Alex Silas
- Arlene Wortsman
- Michelle Hurtubise, ex officio
Commissioners
OPC was led by four respected, independent and empathetic Commissioners with deep experience in human rights and community action.
Leilani Farha
Leilani is Global Director of The Shift – an international human rights organization focused on housing, and the former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing, a post she held from 2014-2020. Her work is animated by the principle that housing is a social good, and a human right – not a commodity.
Leilani serves as a Commissioner with the International Commission of Jurists and has a long history working in Canada to advance human rights. As Executive Director of Canada Without Poverty (2012 – 2020) she launched a successful Charter challenge to the tax rules governing charitable organizations.
Leilani, who is from Ottawa, co-chairs a national working group on housing issues and is working with cities across the country to use human rights law to effectively address homeless encampments.
Alex Neve
Alex is an adjunct professor in international human rights law at the University of Ottawa and Dalhousie University, and a Senior Fellow with the uOttawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. He served as Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada from 2000 – 2020. In that role he led and took part in over forty human rights delegations throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, Guantánamo Bay and, closer to home, First Nations communities in Canada.
Alex is a lawyer, with an LLB from Dalhousie University and a Master’s in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex. He has served as a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board, serves on the Board of the Centre for Law and Democracy and is a Fellow with the Atlantic Human Rights Centre.
An Officer of the Order of Canada, Alex is a long-time Ottawa resident.
Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah
Debbie is an award-winning Black feminist with over eight years of local and international advocacy experience in a variety of roles ranging from programming and counseling to policy analysis and project management. She became the new Executive Director at the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) in July 2020.
Debbie holds an MA in International Affairs. She has had the pleasure of bridging her passion for social justice with international development at Oxfam Canada and Global Affairs Canada – as well as through volunteering and leading feminist initiatives locally with organizations like the Ottawa Dyke March, Harmony House Women’s Shelter, and Planned Parenthood Ottawa.
When she isn’t active in her community organizing events, Debbie is probably on a field somewhere playing rugby. Or baking a cake.
Monia Mazigh
Monia is an award-winning author and human rights activist – and an Adjunct and Research Professor at Carleton University’s Department of English and Literature. She writes in French and English and has authored a memoir and three critically acclaimed novels. Her latest novel, Farida won the Ottawa Book Award for French fiction. Her new memoir, “My personal journey with a “Scar…f”, an essay/memoir about gendered islamophobia, will be published in 2023.
Monia is very involved in her Ottawa community, raising funds for affordable housing. She sits on the boards of the Rideau Institute, Ottawa Muslim Women’s Organization, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the Association des Auteures et Auteurs de l’Ontario français. Monia is a member of the International Advisory Council for the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.
Commissioners:
- chaired public hearings where residents, community groups, public officials and experts can share their experience and present their views
- attended community consultations
- oversaw research and prepared a report with recommendations
- presented their findings and continue to advocate for action
To maintain their independence, Commissioners operated at arms-length from CCHC and the OPC Advisory Committee but drew on their support.
Public Hearings
Local residents shared their stories and presented their views at 14 hearings held online and in different downtown neighbourhoods during the fall of 2022.
Hearings were open to the public and posted to YouTube. Some were geared to specific groups, for example, the disabled community or journalists or convoy supporters.
As well, eight community consultations were held, targeting specific groups directly affected by the occupation, including the homeless, Asian seniors, 2SLGBTQIA+ community members and others.
OPC also welcomed written submissions, receiving almost 100 statements from local residents and organizations.
Every effort was made to remove barriers to participation and ensure OPC was open and accessible to all, providing translation, interpretation and other supports where needed. Support from trauma counsellors was also offered.
Diverse Voices
Many people who are Indigenous or Black or a person of colour, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, younger folk or older, people with disabilities, migrants, people living rough, and others face daily discrimination and hate — before, during and since the occupation. OPC did not want to increase the risk they might be targeted or trolled.
For that reason, OPC worked with community leaders from diverse groups to create safe spaces where people could come forward to share their stories and reflect on their collective experience. This input proved invaluable to the Commissioners in deepening their understanding and informing their recommendations.
As well, OPC worked with an Inner-City Stakeholders Group, including folk from community associations and agencies, business groups and unions, faith communities and organizations representing diverse groups — especially those confronting hate, discrimination and marginalization — to promote collective action to preempt a repeat of the convoy occupation.
People’s commission releases 2nd report on convoy protests in Ottawa – April 4, 2023
Amnesty International Canada head alleges discrimination after being barred from boarding flight
Air Canada has since apologized to Ketty Nivyabandi
The head of Amnesty International Canada is accusing Air Canada of racism and discrimination after she was denied boarding a flight to Mexico.
Ketty Nivyabandi, who is a permanent resident of Canada with official refugee status, was due to depart from the Ottawa International Airport on Thursday afternoon, but said when she went to check in, the Air Canada agent became confused by her travel documents. Nivyabandi said she was travelling to Mexico for a work conference.
I'm not the only one who has experienced this, it's a pattern.
- Ketty Nivyabandi
Originally from Burundi, Nivyabandi uses a government-issued refugee travel document in lieu of a Canadian passport when she travels. According to the Canadian government, these documents are sufficient evidence of an individual's immigration status and should allow them to travel outside the country.
According to Nivyabandi, however, the first agent she dealt with didn't appear aware of that.
"He seemed to have never seen a travel document of the sort," she said.
About an hour and a half later, after speaking with the agent, his manager and then another agent on the phone, Nivyabandi said she was denied boarding. Their explanation — that she was missing a visa to enter Mexico.
Nivyabandi said there's no such visa requirement for permanent residents or refugees living in Canada. She said none of this was an issue when she took the same flight with the same airline back in October.
"I was simply stunned when I was told that I couldn't board and my luggage was returned to me. That is not a scenario that I expected at all," she said.
She inquired directly with Mexico's embassy in Canada, which confirmed she's right.
"Permanent residents of Canada must present their Permanent Resident Card and one of the following documents: valid Passport or Refugee Travel Document. [THEY] DO NOT REQUIRE A VISA," the embassy wrote in an email later that day.
The same information is also publicly available on the embassy's website.
"I was shocked. I felt humiliated," said Nivyabandi.
'Systemic pattern of racial profiling'
Nivyabandi said this is not the first time she's experienced problems trying to enter or leave the country, and she knows she's not alone.
"It's part of a pattern and a systemic pattern of racial profiling, of over-scrutinizing travellers who happen to be racialized, happen to be Black, happen to be from a religious minority, happen to be refugees who are immediately assumed to be in the wrong," she said.
Those sentiments were echoed by the Americas director for Amnesty International, who called the situation "outrageous and unacceptable."
"We demand a public apology from the airline and reparation for the harm caused, which must include immediately issuing her a new ticket to fly as soon as possible," wrote Erika Guevara-Rosas in a statement posted on the organization's website.
Rules 'complex,' says Air Canada
Nivyabandi was refunded the cost of her flight. She re-booked and was able to board a more expensive flight Friday afternoon.
The airline said it had since "obtained further clarity on the rules" and has apologized to Nivyabandi — though maintained it handled the situation appropriately.
"It is Air Canada's policy to treat every customer with respect and courtesy and this is how we responded to Ms. Nivyabandi's situation at Ottawa airport," the airline said in a statement to CBC on Friday.
Air Canada wrote that several agents worked hard to help Nivyabandi, including consulting Timatic, a data resource maintained by the International Air Transport Association that airlines can consult on national entry requirements including a passenger's eligibility to enter a country.
"These rules can be complex and may vary from country to country, particularly in instances where a customer is travelling on a less-commonly used type of document, such as in this instance, a refugee document," Air Canada said, adding that airlines are subject to penalty if they allow passengers to fly without proper documentation.
"The information Timatic provided in this instance was unclear about the necessary documents to travel to Mexico," Air Canada said. The airline said it's working with the service to make sure its information is correct and updated.
Air Canada has apologized to Nivyabandi directly and says it has since 'obtained further clarity on the rules.' (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Confusion rife, lawyer says
Immigration lawyer Jacqueline Bonisteel said she can sympathize with airlines that must navigate complex regulations involving multiple jurisdictions.
While a refugee travel document is a legitimate and accepted form of identification, "the reality is that that document isn't accepted by every country, and travel on that document does tend to be more difficult than it would be on a Canadian passport," she said.
Bonisteel noted she often hears about "confusion" among airline workers who are "making calls that we believe don't comply with the law."
"I think it's just another example of barriers that refugees face and something that we need to look at as best we can," she said.
"It's not Canada's rules, it's the rules that the countries that people are trying to travel to, but perhaps there's more that we could be doing to ensure that these issues don't come up."
Nivyabandi said she understands that airlines need to follow the rules, but felt what happened to her was an example of how those rules are subject to interpretation, which can leave people like her in a difficult position.
She has since reached out to Air Canada leadership for a conversation about wider reforms, including training for employees on racial profiling and compensation for travellers who are unfairly denied boarding a flight.
"I'm not the only one who has experienced this, it's a pattern. It happens across the board, and so it requires a robust and systemic response," she said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Many ghosts, politicians, journalists, lawyers, Indian Chiefs, cops, the FBI and RCMP know why I have every right to say Hoka Hey to the very evil Yankee Tommy Boy Flanagan
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Wed, Sep 29, 2021 at 3:30 PM |
| To: info@stopline3.org, info@honorearth.org, alberto@ienearth.org, frankbibeau@gmail.com, brobergmnwoo@gmail.com, ronblkcld@gmail.com, kleonhardt@mmclocal.com, mkeller@mediasavantcom.com, jennifer@ienearth.org, lcotribalpolice@gmail.com, joe.morey@lco-nsn.gov, listener@wpr.org, rmedhora@cigionline.org, ashull@cigionline.org, stripp@cigionline.org, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, premier <premier@gov.ab.ca>, Office of the Premier <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>, PREMIER <PREMIER@gov.ns.ca>, premier <premier@leg.gov.mb.ca>, premier <premier@gov.bc.ca>, premier <premier@gov.pe.ca>, premier <premier@gov.yk.ca>, "Paul.Lynch" <Paul.Lynch@edmontonpolice.ca>, premier <premier@gov.nl.ca>, cps <cps@calgarypolice.ca>, themayor <themayor@calgary.ca>, theangryalbertan <theangryalbertan@protonmail.com>, "freedomreport.ca" <freedomreport.ca@gmail.com>, kingpatrick278 <kingpatrick278@gmail.com>, "Kevin.leahy" <Kevin.leahy@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "Kaycee.Madu" <Kaycee.Madu@gov.ab.ca>, "kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>, "Arseneau, Kevin (LEG)" <kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca>, "Kim.Poffenroth" <Kim.Poffenroth@gnb.ca>, bryan.larkin@wrps.on.ca, "Brenda.Lucki" <Brenda.Lucki@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "Bill.Blair" <Bill.Blair@parl.gc.ca>, washington field <washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>, arotenberg@cacp.ca, conference@theiacp.org, "steve.murphy" <steve.murphy@ctv.ca>, "stefanos.karatopis" <stefanos.karatopis@gmail.com>, sheilagunnreid <sheilagunnreid@gmail.com>, cyril@tritonverify.com, karen.redman@wrps.on.ca, michael.oshea@faa.gov, Karl.Kiefer@wrps.on.ca, publicinfo@wrps.on.ca, Newsroom <Newsroom@globeandmail.com>, Norman Traversy <traversy.n@gmail.com>, humantrafficking@theiacp.org, "Mark.Blakely" <Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "martin.gaudet" <martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca>, "Mike.Comeau" <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, lmcnaughton@cigionline.org, sboettger@cigionline.org, euberig@cigionline.org, John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca, "Ross.Wetmore" <Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca>, tj <tj@burkelaw.ca>, drew@cypressmedicinehat.com, bbachrach <bbachrach@bachrachlaw.net>, editor@vicnews.com, "Boston.Mail" <Boston.Mail@ic.fbi.gov>, editor <editor@wikileaks.org> | |
| Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, "Katie.Telford" <Katie.Telford@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>, irwincotler <irwincotler@rwchr.org>, "Ian.Shugart" <Ian.Shugart@pco-bcp.gc.ca>, Info <Info@jakestewart.ca>, info <info@peoplespartyofcanada.ca>, "ian.hanamansing" <ian.hanamansing@cbc.ca>, writeathon@amnesty.ca | |
https://davidraymondamos3. Wednesday, 29 September 2021 Many ghosts, politicians, journalists, lawyers, Indian Chiefs, cops, the FBI and RCMP know why I have every right to say Hoka Hey to the very evil Yankee Tommy Boy Flanagan ---------- Original message ---------- From: WPR Listener <listener@wpr.org> Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2021 15:54:18 +0000 Subject: Automatic reply: Many ghosts, politiicans, journalists, lawyers, Indian Chiefs, cops, the FBI and RCMP know why I have every right to say Hoka Hey to the very evil Yankee Tommy Boy Flanagan To: "david.raymond.amos333@gmail. Thank you for contacting Wisconsin Public Radio. Listener feedback is vital to serving our audience; we read and appreciate it all! If you’ve asked a question or requested a response, we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Due to extenuating circumstances, it may take us longer to respond; we appreciate your patience! If you’re sending a comment or suggestion, it will be logged and shared, anonymously, with all staff. If you wish to make a donation or adjust your sustaining membership, please visit wpr.org/donate<http://www.wpr. donation support team at 888-202-2552. Thank you for listening and supporting Wisconsin Public Radio! Appreciatively, Your Audience Services Team P.S. Visit wpr.org<https://www.wpr.org/> to find digital content, program schedules and archives, and sign up for e-newsletters. | |
Amnesty International Canada English Speaking
312 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6P6613-744-7667
https://amnesty.ca/
Human rights defender and poet Ketty Nivyabandi appointed Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada
Lana Verran, Chair of the Board of Directors of Amnesty International Canada (English Branch) today announced the appointment of Burundian human rights defender and poet Ketty Nivyabandi as the branch’s next Secretary General. Ketty has resided in Canada since 2015 and holds refugee status in the country. She succeeds Alex Neve, who is stepping down after more than twenty years in the role.
“At such a challenging time for human rights across Canada and around the world, but also tremendous openings for advancing real change, we are excited and honoured that Ketty Nivyabandi will be our next Secretary General,” said Lana Verran. “Her dynamism, conviction and experience offer precisely the inspiring leadership we need at this time.”
Formerly holding the role of Advocacy and Research Manager at Nobel Women’s Initiative and having previously worked as a journalist in Burundi, Ketty has been a passionate defender of human rights throughout her life, driven by a commitment to grassroots movements, advocacy and the inherent power of people working for change. Prior to seeking asylum in Canada, she faced police violence as a leading organizer of women’s peaceful protests for democratic change in her country.
A compelling public speaker, Ketty is frequently called upon as a keynote speaker and moderator, addressing women’s human rights, the situation in Burundi and other pressing human rights concerns at various advocacy events such as the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, at McGill University’s Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, and the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
“I am honoured to be appointed Amnesty International Canada’s next Secretary General. It is a privilege to lead Amnesty’s work at this important juncture for human rights,” Ketty Nivyabandi said. “Amnesty’s mission reflects the values I have always stood for and I am eager to join the world’s largest people-driven movement for human rights.”
In keeping with Amnesty’s rich legacy of advocacy and research Ketty has supported global women activist movements (in Syria, Yemen, Myanmar, Cameroon, South Sudan) to shape public policy in her previous capacity at the Nobel Women’s Initiative. She has led research and advocacy on massive human rights atrocities against the Rohingya and the threats faced by women human rights defenders in the Middle East. And as a global advocacy leader on human rights abuses in Burundi, Ketty has supported numerous local activists to reach safety including by leading successful digital campaigns for the release of detainees.
Having developed strategies to improve staff well-being and reform organizational culture, Ketty will work collaboratively with Jayne Stoyles, Executive Director, under our co-leadership model. As Jayne Stoyles expressed, “I am very excited to be welcoming Ketty. The work of AI Canada’s members and partners, and of our Amnesty colleagues around the world, will benefit greatly from her depth of experience as an advocate for human rights change, her passion as an activist and the warmth and humility Ketty exudes in her approach.”
Ketty will officially take up the role as Secretary General later this year, after a transition period with outgoing Secretary General Alex Neve. “I am thrilled that someone of Ketty’s experience, talents and passion is the next Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada,” said Alex Neve, “I have had several opportunities to work with her over the past few years and have always been inspired by her insights, moved by her eloquence, and energized by her unwavering commitment to the very essence of universal human rights. Ketty’s leadership comes at a crucial time of challenge, responsibility and opportunity for human rights change and transformation, both nationally and internationally. Amnesty International Canada could not be in more capable and caring hands going forward.”
“Human rights work is a critical as ever amid an ongoing pandemic, a divisive political climate, the urgent need to address systemic racism, the increasing human rights impact of the climate crisis and threats to democracy and the right to peaceful protest across the globe,” said Lana Verran. “We are confident that Ketty brings the energy and commitment needed for Amnesty International to be at the forefront of addressing these immense challenges, as we continue toward our goal of being a bigger, bolder and more inclusive human rights movement.”
Amnesty International Canada will host an exciting event around International Human Rights Day on December 10 with Ketty Nivyabandi and Alex Neve in conversation. This will also be an opportunity to wish Alex well and to welcome Ketty. Watch for more details. A tribute book is also being prepared for Alex, and you are invited to contribute messages and photos through Bonnie Harnden at bcharnden@sympatico.ca until November 27.
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