Canadian passport policy discriminates against Palestinians
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Montreal, March 18, 2024 — The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) strongly disapproves of the failure to list Palestine as a country of origin on the passport application of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This absence effectively negates Palestinian identity and contributes to Anti-Palestinian racism by denying the Palestinian people the fundamental acknowledgment of their homeland. A significant outcry on social media in February, 2024, sparked by a popular TikTok video, underscored the frustration and sense of exclusion felt by Palestinian Canadians and their descendants, who find their nation unrepresented in official Canadian bureaucratic processes.
Robinson comments reflect deeply racist view of Palestinian land, people, and heritage: ARPCF
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Montreal, January 30, 2024 — The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) expresses profound concern over remarks made by Selina Robinson regarding Palestine, which were made public on January 30, 2024. Speaking at an event organized by the Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith, Robinson described historic Palestine as a "crappy piece of land" with little economic value prior to the 1948 creation of the state of Israel. These comments first reflect a misunderstanding of the geography, climate, and rights and history of the indigenous Palestinian people. Robinson’s comments also perpetuate a narrative of racial superiority that justifies the ongoing denial of the rights of Palestinians to self-determination.