Is Canada a Haven for Torturers? Ask Refugee Lawyer, Past President of the Canadian Council for Refugees David Matas During Talk At York University

TORONTO, February 28, 2000 -- With mounting US and international scrutiny over Canada's immigration and refugee policies -- including perceptions, at home and abroad, that Canada is becoming a haven for terrorists, war criminals, and torturers -- the Canadian government is facing increasing pressure to tighten and streamline its refugee claimant rules and procedures, and to bring those identified as torturers to justice.

Whether or not Canada is becoming a haven for people who have perpetuated crimes against humanity is also a matter of grave concern for David Matas, a Winnipeg refugee lawyer and a past president of the Canadian Council for Refugees. During a seminar at York University, hosted by York's Centre for Refugee Studies, Tues., Feb., 29, 12:30 to 2 p.m., Matas will delve into such questions as:

Is Canada a haven for torturers?

Is Canada ignoring its international obligations to bring known tortures to justice?

Should Canada deport those identified of such crimes back to their country of origin?

Matas lectures on immigration and refugee law at the University of Manitoba. He a member of the Board of Directors of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, and is actively involved with the Canadian Bar Association and The League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith.

WHO:
David Matas, Refugee Lawyer, past president of the Canadian Council for Refugees

WHAT:
Seminar: Is Canada A Haven for Torturers?

WHEN:
Tues., Feb., 29, 12:30 p.m.- 2 p.m.

WHERE:
Room 305, York Lanes, York University, 4700 Keele Street

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Colleen Burke
Coordinator, Centre for Refugee Studies
York University
(416) 736-5663, or (416) 736-2100, ext. 30391
cburke@yorku.ca

Ken Turriff
Media Relations Officer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
kturriff@yorku.ca
YU/022/00