Paris

Friday June 2, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday June 2, 2017

Trump announces U.S. will withdraw from Paris climate accord

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will withdraw from the Paris agreement on climate change.

April 11, 2017

At a news conference in the White House Rose Garden on Thursday afternoon, Trump said the accord is “very unfair to the United States.”

“In order to fulfil my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.”

Trump said his country would either renegotiate its re-entry into the Paris agreement under different terms, or participate in the creation of a whole new climate deal.

March 8, 2017

White House officials had signalled withdrawal was likely to reporters, but Trump has been known to change his mind at the last minute on major decisions, as happened recently with the NAFTA trade deal.

Abandoning the accord was one of Trump’s principal campaign pledges, but America’s allies have expressed alarm about the likely consequences.

April 20, 2017

The Paris agreement was struck in 2015 and months later, the U.S. and China jointly said they would sign off on the deal. The agreement went into effect for the U.S. in November 2016.

Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, has criticized Trump’s resistance to the deal, saying the U.S. president doesn’t understand the fine print of the agreement and that the process of formally withdrawing could take two to three years. (Source: CBC News)

 

Saturday April 23, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday April 23, 2016 Justin Trudeau signs Paris climate treaty at UN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the Paris agreement on climate change during a ceremony at the United Nations in New York City this morning, giving his word that Canada will harness the power of renewable energy as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "Today, with my signature, I give you our word that Canada's efforts will not cease,"ÊTrudeauÊsaid Friday. "Climate change will test our intelligence, our compassion and our will. But we are equal to that challenge.Ó TheÊCanadianÊgovernment has committed to reducingÊgreenhouse gas emissions byÊ30 per centÊfrom 2005 levelsÊby 2030ÊÑ a goal set by the previous Conservative government. Ê The Trudeau government has saidÊthis objectiveÊis a "floor" rather than a "ceiling" for what can be accomplished.Ê During his opening remarksÊat the UN ceremony on Friday, Trudeau saidÊthe Paris agreement will be tabled in Parliament next month and will be formally ratified later this year. The Liberal leader saidÊthe business case for investing in cleanÊenergy was clear, with nearly a third of a trillion dollars invested in renewable powerÊglobally last year. "That's a trend that will continue to grow, and it's one that represents a tremendous opportunity for Canada.ÊOne that we cannot ÑÊand will not ÑÊignore,"ÊTrudeauÊsaid to rousing applause from the UN assembly. Trudeau drew further applause from the crowd when he defendedÊdeveloping countries who are facing extraordinary challenges. "They shouldn't be punished for a problem they didn't create, nor should they be deprived of opportunities for clean growth that developed nations are now pursuing." TrudeauÊtold the UN that the Liberal government hasÊcommitted to investingÊ$2.65 billion over the next five yearsÊto help developing countries fight climate change. "We're not making theseÊinvestments simply to be nice,Êalthough I know Can

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 23, 2016

Justin Trudeau signs Paris climate treaty at UN

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the Paris agreement on climate change during a ceremony at the United Nations in New York City this morning, giving his word that Canada will harness the power of renewable energy as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday March 4, 2016 Ottawa willing to impose carbon price if impasse drags on The federal government is prepared to impose a national price on carbon if Canada's premiers fail to come to an agreement on their own, CBC News has learned. Putting a price tag on pollution would pit Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government against some provincial premiers who see the move as another blow to an enfeebled economy. Trudeau is meeting with premiers and territorial leaders today in Vancouver. A senior official close to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the Liberal government campaigned on environmental change and won a majority. "We feel that we've got a mandate to do it. And we want to do it in co-operation with the provinces," the official said. "But at the end of the day we are going to do it." Federal action isn't imminent, but Ottawa won't allow carbon price talks to drag on indefinitely. "This should be a conversation about how we are going to price carbon, not whether," said the source. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has been the loudest critic of a carbon tax, saying it will only hammer an already sluggish energy sector. Wall told reporters on Wednesday that he wasn't alone in his position, and that's been backed up in public and private statements by officials from other provinces here in Vancouver. "You're going to hear a lot more about carbon management than carbon pricing," said one premier in explaining the view in their private meetings. Five provinces already have a price on carbon. Penalizing polluters financially is aimed at curbing the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carbon-price-cap-and-trade-first-ministers-meeting-vancouver-1.3473524 Canada, provinces, Christy Clark, Phillippe Couilliard, Kathleen Wynne, Rachel Notley, Justin Trudeau, Brad Wall, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, carbon, tax, environment, climate change

Friday March 4, 2016

“Today, with my signature, I give you our word that Canada’s efforts will not cease,” Trudeau said Friday. “Climate change will test our intelligence, our compassion and our will. But we are equal to that challenge.”

The Canadian government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 — a goal set by the previous Conservative government.

The Trudeau government has said this objective is a “floor” rather than a “ceiling” for what can be accomplished.

During his opening remarks at the UN ceremony on Friday, Trudeau said the Paris agreement will be tabled in Parliament next month and will be formally ratified later this year.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday December 15, 2015 After Paris climate talks comes the hard part: a global carbon diet The world is about to go on a carbon diet. It won't be easy Ñ or cheap. Nearly 200 countries across the world on Saturday approved a first-of-its-kind universal agreement to wean Earth off fossil fuels and slow global warming, patting themselves on the back for showing such resolve. On Sunday morning, like for many first-day dieters, the reality sets in. The numbers Ñ like calorie limits and hours needed in the gym Ñ are daunting. How daunting? Try more than 7.04 billion tonnes. That's how much carbon dioxide needs to stay in the ground instead of being spewed into the atmosphere for those reductions to happen, even if you take the easier of two goals mentioned in Saturday's deal. To get to the harder goal, it's even larger numbers. In the pact, countries pledged to limit global warming to about another one degree Celsius from now (or 2 C measuring against the pre-industrial average global surface temperature) Ñ and if they can, only half that. Another, more vague, goal is that by sometime in the second half of the century, human-made greenhouse gas emissions won't exceed the amount that nature absorbs. Earth's carbon cycle, which is complex and ever-changing, would have to get back to balance. (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/paris-cop21-climate-deal-fallout-1.3363024 Canada, Carbon, Climate Change, Justin Trudeau, Kathleen Wynne, Rachel Notley, Catherine McKenna, Business, oil, industry, manufacturing, sustainable, development

December 15, 2015

The Liberal leader said the business case for investing in clean energy was clear, with nearly a third of a trillion dollars invested in renewable power globally last year.

“That’s a trend that will continue to grow, and it’s one that represents a tremendous opportunity for Canada. One that we cannot — and will not — ignore,” Trudeau said to rousing applause from the UN assembly.

Trudeau drew further applause from the crowd when he defended developing countries who are facing extraordinary challenges.

“They shouldn’t be punished for a problem they didn’t create, nor should they be deprived of opportunities for clean growth that developed nations are now pursuing.”

Thursday November 5, 2015

November 5, 2015

Trudeau told the UN that the Liberal government has committed to investing $2.65 billion over the next five years to help developing countries fight climate change.

“We’re not making these investments simply to be nice, although I know Canada does have a reputation to uphold in that department,” joked Trudeau.

“We’re making these investments and we’re following through on our commitments because it’s the right thing to do.”

Trudeau urged other countries to follow through with their commitments. (Source: CBC News)

 

Posted to iPolitics

Analysis

A thorough and nicely summarized essay on my cartoon from Carlos Danger Site.

Political Cartoon Assignment Part 2, Matthew Macrae, Section 003, November 15, 2016, Ralph Ashford

Background

There is a lot going on in this cartoon which leaves it up to personal interpretation on what the main issue the cartoon is trying to focus on. The first thing I noticed was the Climate Treaty that Trudeau seems to be holding. It doesn’t directly specify what treaty it is referencing, but it would be a safe bet to assume that the piece of paper is supposed to be representing the Paris Climate Agreement which has had talks going on since December of 2015. The reason this agreement would be relevant is because Canada has recently decided to be ratified to the Paris Agreement, which means that our country is now legally bound to the conditions set out in the treaty.

The cartoon also seems to be referencing the carbon tax and economic regulations that were promised and promoted during election time, but have seemed to be swept under the carpet recently under Trudeau’s time spent in office.

The last major theme that appears in this comic is the man wearing the “action” shirt. This doesn’t reference a certain event or promise, but instead it seems to encapsulate the general attitude that a lot of people recently have of Trudeau not really following through on his promises.  There’s a lot of examples of Trudeau not fulfilling what he said, currently the most prevalent event sparking this recent negativity to Trudeau would be his sudden change of heart in reforming First Past the Post, a voting system where the winning party does not need to attain a majority of the electoral votes to seize power, like was promised during the election. The native community in Canada has also had some growing anger towards the Liberal party, for their abandonment of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Trudeau’s approval on the construction of a dam on Treaty 8 land. Trudeau’s inaction seems to be recurring and prevalent theme of this political cartoon.

Analysis

The first symbol that really stuck out to me was Trudeau’s face in this comic. Usually he’s portrayed in a similar fashion, with the dopey face, but this artist seems to have put a lot of emphasis on his eyebrows, eye lashes, and lips, giving him a very feminine appearance. Which gives off the image of him being a pretty boy, something that’s usually not looked well towards. In the complete opposite direction, the man in the background looks more like an average Joe, a grizzled working class man who is waiting on Trudeau to fulfill his promises, showing that they are at odds with each other. Trudeau taking a selfie, a common criticism of him, is also present which can give off the idea that he’s self-absorbed and only cares about promoting himself in a positive light. Lighting seems to be an important symbol in this cartoon, with Trudeau having almost a halo like sphere of light around his head while the common man is literally being left in the shadows. The lighting around the common man is bleak and grey, perhaps trying to show off the attitude that a lot of Canadians have towards a future under Trudeau. Touching on Trudeau’s appearance again, he’s wearing a red tie which is no coincidence since red is the colour of the Liberal party of Canada and also is a power colour. The common man is also wearing a hat with a maple leaf, confirming that he’s to be seen as the average Canadian. The equipment rack is holding various tools, but one sticks out the most to me. The broom with the word regulations written on it is perhaps meant to give off the idea that Trudeau is trying to sweep away climate regulations.

 

Course Application

Based off the way the comic is drawn you would naturally assume that the artist was most likely right-wing, but if you look at his other comics he seems to satirize both parties on separate ends of the political spectrum. I think this is interesting because if a seemingly neutral artist is willing to be this harsh to Trudeau it exemplifies the growing conflict that is emerging between the Liberal party and their voter base. A lot of people believe that the Liberals are going against the party’s values, and the values that people assumed Trudeau would have, with actions such as Dam C fueling this new distrust. Trudeau also gives off the image of being an individualist in this comic, only caring for himself and not the common folk he’s sworn to help. I think it’s important to realize this and bring it up in class because there’s a newly emerging sentiment of distrust and anger towards Trudeau that seems to be bubbling and it will be interesting to see where it leads if it continues. If the emerging attitudes toward Trudeau and his government progress it could lead to a power shift with a new party like the NDP or Conservatives being elected in the future, because of the Liberals reluctance to listen to their voters.

References

Cheadle, B. (2016). Canada to ratify Paris climate deal while still working on national plan. Retrieved November 14, 2016, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-ratify-paris-climate-deal-1.3766983

 Paris Agreement. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2016, from https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/paris/index_en.htm

Press, J. B. (n.d.). Trudeau announces plan to kill first-past-the-post by the next election. Retrieved November 15, 2016, from http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/trudeau-announcing-plan-to-kill-first-past-the-post-by-the-next-election

(2016, May 13). Trudeau may be killing his own electoral reform project. Retrieved November 15, 2016, from https://ipolitics.ca/2016/05/13/trudeau-may-be-killing-his-own-electoral-reform-project/

McParland, K. (2016, July 18). Kelly McParland: Trudeau’s first broken promise to First Nations people is a whopper, but won’t be the last. Retrieved November 15, 2016, fromhttp://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/kelly-mcparland-trudeaus-first-broken-promise-to-natives-is-a-whopper-but-wont-be-the-last

Kurjata, A. (2016, September 23). Justin Trudeau accused of ‘bulldozing Aboriginal rights’ with Site C – British Columbia – CBC News. Retrieved November 15, 2016, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/justin-trudeau-accused-of-bulldozing-aboriginal-rights-with-site-c-1.3776792

 Treaty Guide to Treaty No. 8 (1899). (2010, September 15). Retrieved November 15, 2016, from https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100028805/1100100028807

 MacKay, G. (2016, April 23) The Hamilton Spectator. [Cartoon] Retrieved from: https://mackaycartoons.net/2016/04/22/7899/

Saturday November 28, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday November 28, 2015 Paris climate talks: powerful business lobbies seek to undermine deal As the UNÕs climate talks in Paris begin, the lobbying and public relations push from some of the biggest corporations responsible for climate change has gone into overdrive. What are the messages theyÕre so keen to spread, and what will they mean for the COP21 conference Ð and for the climate? A recent report from the NGO Corporate Europe Observatory reveals that whatÕs on offer at COP21 is nothing short of a climate catastrophe, a guaranteed recipe to cook the planet. But rather than sending the dish back, political leaders have asked for seconds, bringing the very companies responsible for the problem ever closer into the UN fold. James Bacchus, a trade expert at the International Chamber of Commerce, says: ÒThis issue is important for governments to address but it is far too important to leave to governments alone.Ó Fortunately for Bacchus, the UN agrees. The problem, however, is that is has also succeeded in creating several platforms to ensure business-friendly proposals are at the heart of climate policy-making, rather than vice versa. New markets, experimental technologies, all endorsed so polluters donÕt have to change their business models. The UNÕs climate chief, Christiana Figueres Ð who before taking up her post was principal climate change advisor to Latin AmericaÕs leading energy utility, Endesa Ð has even told the world to Òstop demonising oil and gas companiesÓ. (Continued: The Guardian) http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/nov/27/paris-climate-talks-un-business-lobbying-deal-governments Climate Change, COP21, Paris, conference, environment, business, summit, machinery, talk, action

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday November 28, 2015

Paris climate talks: powerful business lobbies seek to undermine deal

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday November 24, 2015 Justin Trudeau, premiers seek to unify Canada's message on climate change With a first ministers meeting set to take place in Ottawa today just one week before the start of the Paris climate talks, a number of premiers are reminding Justin Trudeau he's not swooping in at the 11th hour to save the day. In fact, some are voicing concern the new prime minister may "fiddle around" with plans already in place. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna reiterated a key Liberal campaign pledge on Friday: "We promise to provide national leadership to take action on climate change, put a price on carbon and reduce carbon pollution," she told attendees of the Canada 2020 conference on Friday. Earlier in the day, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard reminded journalists at the same conference that the provinces have been showing leadership on this file for years. "I am very happy to be working with the federal government and colleagues around the table, but let's resist the temptation to start from scratch." Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has been among those most resistant to putting a price on carbon for his province, expressing concern that the harm to the economy would outweigh environmental benefits. That said, he is expected to unveil a plan later on Monday to have his province get at least half of its electricity supplied by renewable resources. New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant says he also intends to make sure economic considerations remain front and centre at the meeting. "We are all very much focused on creating jobs and growing the economy so we have to have these subjects come up in the same conversation to make sure we are growing the economy in a sustainable way," he said Saturday.(Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-premiers-climate-change-meeting-1.3330284 Canada, Justin Trudeau, Kathleen Wynne, Rachel Notley, Philippe Couillard. Stephen McNe

As the UN’s climate talks in Paris begin, the lobbying and public relations push from some of the biggest corporations responsible for climate change has gone into overdrive. What are the messages they’re so keen to spread, and what will they mean for the COP21 conference – and for the climate?

A recent report from the NGO Corporate Europe Observatory reveals that what’s on offer at COP21 is nothing short of a climate catastrophe, a guaranteed recipe to cook the planet. But rather than sending the dish back, political leaders have asked for seconds, bringing the very companies responsible for the problem ever closer into the UN fold.

Wednesday June 10, 2015James Bacchus, a trade expert at the International Chamber of Commerce, says: “This issue is important for governments to address but it is far too important to leave to governments alone.”

Fortunately for Bacchus, the UN agrees. The problem, however, is that is has also succeeded in creating several platforms to ensure business-friendly proposals are at the heart of climate policy-making, rather than vice versa. New markets, experimental technologies, all endorsed so polluters don’t have to change their business models.

The UN’s climate chief, Christiana Figueres – who before taking up her post was principal climate change advisor to Latin America’s leading energy utility, Endesa – has even told the world to “stop demonising oil and gas companies”. (Continued: The Guardian)

 

Tuesday November 24, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday November 24, 2015 Justin Trudeau, premiers seek to unify Canada's message on climate change With a first ministers meeting set to take place in Ottawa today just one week before the start of the Paris climate talks, a number of premiers are reminding Justin Trudeau he's not swooping in at the 11th hour to save the day. In fact, some are voicing concern the new prime minister may "fiddle around" with plans already in place. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna reiterated a key Liberal campaign pledge on Friday: "We promise to provide national leadership to take action on climate change, put a price on carbon and reduce carbon pollution," she told attendees of the Canada 2020 conference on Friday. Earlier in the day, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard reminded journalists at the same conference that the provinces have been showing leadership on this file for years. "I am very happy to be working with the federal government and colleagues around the table, but let's resist the temptation to start from scratch." Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has been among those most resistant to putting a price on carbon for his province, expressing concern that the harm to the economy would outweigh environmental benefits. That said, he is expected to unveil a plan later on Monday to have his province get at least half of its electricity supplied by renewable resources. New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant says he also intends to make sure economic considerations remain front and centre at the meeting. "We are all very much focused on creating jobs and growing the economy so we have to have these subjects come up in the same conversation to make sure we are growing the economy in a sustainable way," he said Saturday.(Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-premiers-climate-change-meeting-1.3330284 Canada, Justin Trudeau, Kathleen Wynne, Rachel Notley, Philippe Couillard. Stephen McNe

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday November 24, 2015

Justin Trudeau, premiers seek to unify Canada’s message on climate change

With a first ministers meeting set to take place in Ottawa today just one week before the start of the Paris climate talks, a number of premiers are reminding Justin Trudeau he’s not swooping in at the 11th hour to save the day.

In fact, some are voicing concern the new prime minister may “fiddle around” with plans already in place.

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna reiterated a key Liberal campaign pledge on Friday: “We promise to provide national leadership to take action on climate change, put a price on carbon and reduce carbon pollution,” she told attendees of the Canada 2020 conference on Friday.

Throwback to 2014

Throwback to 2014

Earlier in the day, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard reminded journalists at the same conference that the provinces have been showing leadership on this file for years.

“I am very happy to be working with the federal government and colleagues around the table, but let’s resist the temptation to start from scratch.”

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has been among those most resistant to putting a price on carbon for his province, expressing concern that the harm to the economy would outweigh environmental benefits.

That said, he is expected to unveil a plan later on Monday to have his province get at least half of its electricity supplied by renewable resources.

New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant says he also intends to make sure economic considerations remain front and centre at the meeting.

“We are all very much focused on creating jobs and growing the economy so we have to have these subjects come up in the same conversation to make sure we are growing the economy in a sustainable way,” he said Saturday.(Source: CBC News)

Published in the Regina Leader-Post, Wednesday November 25, 2015

Published in the Regina Leader-Post, Wednesday November 25, 2015

 

Friday November 20, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday November 20, 2015 More than 30 U.S. states refusing Syrian refugees on 'shaky legal ground' The governors of at least 31 mostly Republican states have announced they will bar Syrian asylum-seekers from attempting to start new lives in their communities. But the tough-sounding pledges Ñ coming just days after 129 people were murdered by Islamic militants in France Ñ may not have much of a legal foundation to stand on, according to Washington authorities on immigration and refugee issues. "It's very shaky legal ground," said Robert McCaw, the government affairs officer with the Council on AmericanÐIslamic Relations on Capitol Hill. "The thing is, these governors don't really have any legal means to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees." To date, governors of the majority of America's states Ñ including such southern bastions of conservatism as Georgia, Alabama and Florida, as well as northern states like Michigan, Illinois and Maine Ñ have pulled in the welcome mat, saying Syrian refugees pose a security risk that must be taken into account. Their tough line also mirrors that which some Republican presidential candidates are taking in the wake of the Paris attacks. But immigration isn't a state-determined issue here, it is a federal one. U.S. refugee admissions are announced by the State Department every year on Oct. 1 as part of the White House's presidential determination for allowing refugees in a given fiscal year. State governors thus do not have the authority to set limits on who or what the refugee influx should look like, said Westy Egmont, director of the Immigration Integration Lab at Boston College. "Any refugee welcome to the U.S. has legal status, and therefore the freedom of movement within all 50 states," Egmont said. "We don't have borders between New Hampshire and Vermont, or New York and Pennsylvania. People are coming and they get to choose where they choose to b

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday November 20, 2015

More than 30 U.S. states refusing Syrian refugees on ‘shaky legal ground’

The governors of at least 31 mostly Republican states have announced they will bar Syrian asylum-seekers from attempting to start new lives in their communities.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday November 18, 2015 Paris attacks polarize Canadians on refugee resettlement plan Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to suspend his plan to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees by January 1st. Premier Wall believes Friday's attacks in Paris are a reminder of "the death and destruction even a small number of malevolent individuals can inflict upon a peaceful country and its citizens." And he's not the only one voicing such fears. Jurisdictions across Europe and North America are rethinking their intake of Syrians amid reports that one of the Paris attackers may have been processed as a refugee from Syria. In Europe, Poland's plan to take in 4,500 refugees now appears in doubt and Germany's open-door policy is facing a fresh wave of criticism. In the United States, eight Republican governors have vowed to close their doors to Syrian refugees. But yesterday President Barack Obama stood by his plan to admit 10,000 refugees in 2016. In Canada, online petitions demanding a halt to Prime Minister Trudeau's plan are making the rounds. One such petition, in Quebec Ð a province whose cultural rifts are often compared to those in France Ð has gained nearly 59,000 signatures in a matter of days. A competing petition calling for support for the refugees quickly racked up nearly 25,000 signatures of its own. Those working behind the scenes to try to bring thousands of Syrian refugees to Canada have not been swayed by the attacks in Paris. Immigration Minister John McCallum issued a statement yesterday reiterating the government's commitment to immediately resettle 25,000 refugees and that it will not compromise Canada's security in order to do so. (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-november-17-2015-1.3322358/paris-attacks-polarize-canadians-on-refugee-resettlement-plan-1.3322384 Canada, North America, racism, bigotry, islamophobia, Sy

But the tough-sounding pledges — coming just days after 129 people were murdered by Islamic militants in France — may not have much of a legal foundation to stand on, according to Washington authorities on immigration and refugee issues.

“It’s very shaky legal ground,” said Robert McCaw, the government affairs officer with the Council on American–Islamic Relations on Capitol Hill. “The thing is, these governors don’t really have any legal means to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees.”

Thursday, October 3, 2013To date, governors of the majority of America’s states — including such southern bastions of conservatism as Georgia, Alabama and Florida, as well as northern states like Michigan, Illinois and Maine — have pulled in the welcome mat, saying Syrian refugees pose a security risk that must be taken into account.

Their t
ough line also mirrors that which some Republican presidential candidates are taking in the wake of the Paris attacks. But immigration isn’t a state-determined issue here, it is a federal one.

Wednesday April 22, 2015U.S. refugee admissions are announced by the State Department every year on Oct. 1 as part of the White House’s presidential determination for allowing refugees in a given fiscal year.

State governors thus do not have the authority to set limits on who or what the refugee influx should look like, said Westy Egmont, director of the Immigration Integration Lab at Boston College.

“Any refugee welcome to the U.S. has legal status, and therefore the freedom of movement within all 50 states,” Egmont said. “We don’t have borders between New Hampshire and Vermont, or New York and Pennsylvania. People are coming and they get to choose where they choose to be.” (Source: CBC News)