Anglican Church of Canada Criticizes Government policy
Episcopal News Service. July 28, 1993 [93144K]
The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund of the Anglican Church of Canada has joined the call for a review of Canada's refugee determination system and expressed grave concern about the government restructuring that apparently lodges refugee and immigration matters with the new ministry of public security. Archbishop Michael Peers, primate of the Anglican Church, noted that the move to deal with refugees under the heading of "public security" can only exacerbate racist attitudes. "Of course the government must ensure public security, but to lump genuine refugees in with criminals and spies, as if they automatically present a threat to Canadian security, is false and misleading," Peers said. "It encourages stereotyping and may contribute to racist behavior."