Winnipeg -- The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) tabled with the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration its position paper concerning Bill C-31, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. This paper will form the basis of UCC's presentation before the Standing Committee later this fall.

The sixteen page position paper proposes six recommendations for the consideration of the Standing Committee, namely the UCC:

• advances that the Bill should be amended to include a clear recognition of the multicultural character of Canada;
  
  
• endorses the recommendation of the Canadian Bar Association, National Citizenship and Immigration Law Section (CBA) that the right of entry into Canada of permanent residents be guaranteed until inland determination of loss of status, with full appeal rights;
  
  
• supports the CBA's position that the requirement for leave be removed for judicial review of determinations under the Act;
  
  
• agrees with the CBA that permanent residents and refugee claimants may only be removed after judicial review of the removal determinations is completed;
  
  
• advances the position that the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration needs to be presented with the proposed regulatory scheme being developed by the Department before completing its deliberations of the Bill; and
  
  
• recommends that the new regulations be subject to a sunset provision.
  
  

"The UCC looks forward to exploring all these issues with the Standing Committee to ensure that balance, fairness and transparency are the key elements to a sound Canadian immigration policy for the 21st century" said Eugene Czolij, UCC President.

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September 21, 2000