I've just learned that war resister Matt Lowell has been granted leave to appeal in the negative decision on his Humanitarian & Compassionate application. Matt's lawyer, Alyssa Manning, will argue his case before the court in mid-March. If Matt and Alyssa win, Matt will be able to file a new H&C application.
Many thanks to Alyssa, who labours tirelessly on behalf of the war resisters, and David Heap, friend of wmtc, coordinator of the London War Resister Support Group, where Matt lives in London, Ontario.
We continue to win in the courts! Unfortunately, the Immigration and Refugee Board has been less promising.
Tomorrow morning, I'll join a small contingent of campaigners as we accompany war resister (and my dear friend) Kimberly Rivera, her husband Mario, their son Christian (age 6), daughter Rebecca (age 4), and daughter Katie (age 5 weeks), to the Immigration and Refugee Centre, where they will receive the final decision in their H&C and PRRA. We are hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.
"The worst" in this case means a deportation order. It would be nice to think that the Government of Canada will not toss a new mother and her children out of the country, a woman who has done nothing wrong, and who simply wants to live in peace. But based on what the IRB has told other resisters, including those with children, it is unlikely.
The Harper Government will probably send the Riveras back to the US, where Kim faces court martial and prison.
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