NDP is the only party that welcomes immigrants- Nao Fernando

Rachid Arab and Nao Fernando, NDP candidates for Surrey North and Fleetwood-Port Kells, said that the recent comments from two Conservative candidates, one of whom is MP, saying that immigrants and refugees are ‘criminals’ and ‘terrorists’ have raised serious concerns.

Arab said that people, particularly immigrants, are very afraid of the anti-immigrant agenda of the Harper Conservatives. He said that with the help of Dion, Harper pushed the backward Bill C-50 which has not only increased the backlog in the immigration system, but also contributed to the dramatic drop in the number of immigrants coming to Canada to stay permanently.

The two Conservative leaders who commented on immigration on negative lines are MP Lee Richardson of Calgary Centre and Alice Wong. The two leaders recently came under fire for disparaging immigrants and refugees and saying that they are most likely to be negative contributors to the society. The candidates revealed a trend of anti-immigrant bias that was demonstrated in their draconian immigration law, which was passed earlier this year through the House of Commons.

Fernando said that it is a shame that only the New Democrats support and welcome the new Canadians. He said that he hopes that one day all political parties decide to move forward with a progressive agenda that will aimed at integrating immigrants into our society.

Arab said that both Harper and Dion have collectively worked to crush the dreams of many immigrants and their families by remaking the immigration system of Canada in their own way.