GATINEAU'S CODE OF VALUES FOR IMMIGRATION: CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST THE CITY
Montreal, January 18, 2012 --- Kamal Maghri, a Gatineau resident since 2010, has filed a race discrimination complaint against the City of Gatineau for adopting and distributing a document for immigrants on values needed to integrate into Quebec society.
Mr. Maghri, a Canadian citizen who is originally from Morocco, mandated CRARR to file a complaint on his behalf against the City, in which he alleges being a victim of discrimination based on ethnic or national origin and race. According to CRARR and Mr. Maghri, the Code of Values, which was adopted last Fall by the City, constitutes a “document involving discrimination” which is in violation of the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms because it singles out immigrants and assumes that they do not possess these fundamental values.
By stating that “this reference document is produced with the goal to allow immigrants to understand how to interact in the society in which (they) just joined”, and “…to better understand the system of values in which we evolve”, the City of Gatineau is,
“This document infantilizes immigrants and perpetuate very negative stereotypes of immigrants, by insinuating that they are ignorant and primitive, and it contributes to discrimination against them in employment and other sectors. It’s revolting!”, said Mr. Maghri.
“It’s purely a coded anti-immigrant message that is disguised in a sophisticated language about national identity and values. This is unacceptable for a society that needs and that wants to recruit highly trained and entrepeneurial immigrants. A public institution these days cannot practice this form of “Manifest Destiny”, with money from taxpayers and immigrants themselves”, he added.
In addition, the complaint denounced the practice of ethnic and religious profiling. A city employee had contacted an Islamic center in Gatineau to enquire about Mr. Maghri, and conducted research on the internet regarding his past. She then circulated an email to city officials and included Mr. Maghri by mistake among the list of recipients.
“Because of my name, they presumed that I am a practising Muslim and stated that I arrived in the country “shortly after 9-11”, said Mr. Maghri. “This manner of inquiring on a citizen is not only anti-democratic and contrary of civic participation standards, which the Code of Values preaches, but also, a very serious intrusion into my private life.”
CRARR and Mr. Maghri demand
“We not only have to remind city administrations, especially those members of the Canadian and International coalitions of cities against racism such as the City of Gatineau, that they have obligations under domestic Charters of Rights and international conventions not to practice or promote discrimination”, stated CRARR’s Executive Director Fo Niemi.
It is expected that other civil rights complaints from immigrants residing in Gatineau will be filed in the coming days.
Read the Code of Values (in French only):
Fichier attaché | Taille |
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noncé valeurs Gatineau.pdf | 339.6 Ko |