Goodale responds to detainee editorial

Your Aug. 15 editorial on immigration detention in Saskatchewan (Jail poor place for immigration detainees) contained significant errors.

It claimed that “visa violations, failed refugee claims and other administrative issues” can result in someone being detained. In fact, by law someone can only be detained for immigration purposes in three specific situations: if they are a danger to the public, a flight risk, or their identity cannot be verified. Furthermore, the decision to detain someone is reviewed every 30 days by the independent Immigration and Refugee Board.

Your editorial also claimed that immigration detainees are being held in facilities “with people who have committed violent offences like murder.” In reality, they are held in provincial facilities which house inmates who are serving prison terms of two years or less. Immigration detainees are not held in federal correctional facilities, which typically are used to incarcerate murderers.

As minister, I announced a plan to invest $138 million to create a fairer, better system while protecting public safety. It will improve facilities and services, while reducing the use of immigration detention by expanding alternatives, such as voice reporting or third-party supervision.

Already, despite an increase in travellers to Canada, under our government the number of immigration detainees has decreased.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said that

“by and large, the Canadian system remains exemplary, worldwide.” Still, the federal government is anxious to address the weaknesses that remain and do better.

Ralph Goodale, minister of public safety, MP, Regina-Wascana