NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair has called U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 temporary ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries 鈥渞acist鈥� and demanded that the prime minister condemn the order.
Speaking at an emergency debate Tuesday evening, Mulcair said it is Canada鈥檚 role to stand up against 鈥減eople who peddle politics of fear鈥� and asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to issue a formal statement that Canada opposes the ban.
鈥淲e have the obligation to speak out,鈥� Mulcair said in the House of Commons.
Trump鈥檚 executive order, issued Friday, puts a 90-day freeze on all travellers to the U.S. from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan. It also suspends America鈥檚 refugee program for at least four months, a move that has left thousands in limbo.
The order sparked a wave of protests around the world, from New York City to Nunavut, and has been legally challenged by at least three U.S. states.
Trudeau tweeted Saturday that Canadians will welcome those fleeing 鈥減ersecution, terror and war 鈥� regardless of your faith.鈥�
To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength
鈥� Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau)
Speaking to Trudeau鈥檚 tweet, Mulcair questioned the prime minister鈥檚 response, saying, 鈥淚s that our foreign policy?鈥�
He ended by suggesting that the Liberals haven鈥檛 done enough to call out Trump鈥檚 actions using harsher language, saying that the NDP will 鈥渘ever satisfy itself with vague sentences.鈥�
Trudeau did not attend the meeting. But Minister of Immigration Ahmed Hussen defended the prime minister鈥檚 response to the ban and said that the government will continue working with the White House to minimize the ban鈥檚 negative impact on Canadians.
He added that anyone carrying a valid Canadian visitor visa stranded north of the border because of the new U.S. policy will be able to request to extend their stay in Canada 鈥渁s needed.鈥�
鈥淭he prime minister has made it very clear that Canada will continue to be a place of refuge for people fleeing persecution and war in the world,鈥� Hussen said.
The minister added that Canadians have set a global precedent when it comes to welcoming refugees in response to the Syrian refugee crisis. Hussen said the government plans to 鈥渃arry on this proud tradition.鈥�
The emergency meeting, requested by an NDP MP, was called specifically to discuss the travel ban.
