Join us Thursday June 13th from 12pm to 3pm at the Coles Building, counter-protesting the illegal Immigration Policy protest that has been ongoing in Charlottetown since May 9th.

These protestors have set up an illegal encampment at the entrance to the Coles building, using it as a basecamp to hold their hunger strike to the death! At one point in May, the protestors augmented the hunger strike to a “dry hunger strike”, meaning they would no longer be consuming any liquids on top of not consuming food, in order to expedite the self-inflicted harm to themselves, to garner public sympathy and apply more pressure to local officials.

The updates to the immigration program were made in order to prioritize the current and future immigrant populations to better target current dire need of workers in skilled industries on the Island, including the construction industry and health care sector.

Immigration laws are not arbitrary; they are in place to protect the social, economic, and security interests of our country. In the context of immigration, following the rules means entering the country through legal channels, abiding by visa requirements, and respecting the conditions of residency and employment. When individuals or groups flout these regulations, it sets a dangerous precedent that rules are optional rather than mandatory. This can erode the rule of law and create a culture of impunity.

Respecting immigration laws also demonstrates respect for the country itself. It shows a willingness to integrate into the society and adhere to its values and norms. This respect is crucial for building mutual trust and understanding between immigrants and the broader Canadian community.

We want to highlight the counterproductive nature of turning immigration issues into racial issues, as MLA Gordon McNeilly and MLA Karla Bernard are trying to do. Conflating established immigration policies with racial issues is harmful and divisive. Immigration is fundamentally about the movement of people across borders and the policies that govern this process. When the debate is framed in racial terms, it shifts the focus from practical considerations—such as economic impact, security, and social integration—to identity politics.

Framing immigration in racial terms can exacerbate any existing social tensions and divisions. It can create an “us versus them” mentality, fostering resentment and suspicion among different community groups. Such polarization undermines social cohesion and can lead to incidents of real racism, further dividing our society.