A statement against the immigration detention of children

Key points

An average of over 242 children per year were detained in Canada between 2010 and 2014¹
Multiple studies confirm the negative consequences of immigration detention
Canada’s current practice contravenes its domestic and international legal obligations

Supporting organizations and individuals are listed at the end of this document

At several key points in history, Canada has offered refuge to those seeking safety, and protected the rights of children.

These instances stand in stark contrast with Canada’s record on immigration detention, which has been repeatedly criticized, most recently by the UN Human Rights Committee in 2015.² Concerns raised include the indefinite nature of immigration detention, deaths in detention and lack of access to appropriate medical care for detainees. As organizations and individuals that care about children, we believe that Canada should immediately cease the practice of placing children in immigration detention. These detainees include asylum seekers, refugees, Canadian citizens and non-citizens. Children range in age from newborns and toddlers to pre-teens and teenagers, some of whom are unaccompanied. In most cases, children are held alongside their parents or adult siblings, who are held only for immigration-related reasons. Although many of these children are held as “guests” to avoid separating them from detained parents, in fact they are “detained guests” with no right of review of their detention, and inadequate consideration of their best interests when their parents’ detention is being reviewed. In order for Canada to uphold its legal obligations under the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the practice of placing children in immigration detention must be abolished.

Children should not be subject to immigration detention. Children in immigration detention live like prisoners,³ in punitive conditions,⁴ in immigration holding centres and, in some cases, jails. They spend their days in secure facilities, exposed to guard pat-downs and barbed wire fences, with minimal access to outdoor areas, education and play. They lack healthy food and have sleep difficulties. Unaccompanied minors are routinely held in solitary confinement.⁵ Research conducted in Canadian immigration detention facilities⁶ shows that detained children suffer extreme distress, fear, and a deterioration of cognitive, physical and emotional functioning both during and long after detention, including anxiety, selective mutism, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. These findings are consistent with research in other countries,⁷ which shows that children subject to immigration detention have dramatically increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, and may experience developmental delays or behavioural issues. Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act⁸ identifies the best interests of the child as a relevant consideration⁹ and mandates that immigration detention of children should occur only as a last resort.¹⁰ However, immigration detention is never in a child’s best interest, and should never be considered an acceptable option. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees¹¹ has condemned the immigration detention of children, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child¹² has called on states to “expeditiously and completely cease the detention of children on the basis of their immigration status”,¹³ and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, François Crépeau, has recently released a statement on the growing problem of immigration detention of migrant children.¹⁴ Canada is failing to meet these standards.

Children should not be separated from their parents or primary caregivers. Child welfare agencies strive not to separate families. In some cases when children are at risk, they may be required to place children in alternate care. However, it is not appropriate to consider the placement of children in child welfare agencies as an alternative to detention. Separation from caring and capable guardians is not in children’s best interests. The Universal Declaration on Human Rights¹⁵ and the Convention on the Rights of the Child¹⁶ protect the right to family life, and the latter states that children shall not be separated from their parents except where it is necessary for the best interests of a child. Ontario’s Child and Family Services Act emphasizes the “need for continuity of care and for stable relationships within a family and cultural environment.”¹⁷ Similar provisions are contained within each province’s child welfare legislation.¹⁸ Alternative care may be particularly traumatic for children from newcomer communities, who experience isolation and disconnection from their identities and cultural background when they are placed with caretakers outside of their communities. Alongside the impact on children, indefinite immigration detention is damaging for their parents and other adults as well. The impact of immigration detention on the physical and mental health of detainees is well established, with increased levels of anxiety, depression and PTSD.¹⁹ Poor parental mental health negatively impacts children’s mental health, leading to further negative outcomes for children.

There are viable alternatives²⁰ to immigration detention. Canada should stop its harmful practice of detaining children and separating families. Evidence-informed community based alternatives to immigration detention include enforcement of specific reporting obligations, the use of cash bonds and guarantors, and suitable risk management programs for more difficult cases. Many countries have prioritized finding alternatives to detention for unaccompanied minors and children and families given the well-documented detrimental impacts immigration detention can have. These alternatives enable authorities to address concerns regarding identity or flight risk without compromising the health of children.

We urge the government of Canada to immediately cease the immigration detention of unaccompanied minors, children, and families, in order to halt the significant harm to children. Children should neither be detained, nor separated from their parents as a result of the detention of their parents. Community-based alternatives to immigration detention should be implemented immediately to protect the best interests of children and children’s right to liberty and family life. It is time for Canada to live up to its moral and legal obligations.

This statement is supported by the following organizations and individuals:

Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry / Académie canadienne de psychiatrie de l’enfant et de l’adolescent	The College of Family Physicians of Canada / Collège des médecins de famille du Canada
Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture	Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies
University of Toronto Faculty of Law International Human Rights Program	Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services
Centretown Community Health Centre / Centre de santé communautaire du Centreville	Association of Ontario Health Centres / Association des centres de sante de l’Ontario
The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre	Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario / L'Association des infirmières et infirmiers autorisés de l'Ontario

Canadian Paediatric Society	Canadian Council for Refugees	Justice for Children and Youth
Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec	Amnesty International	Amnistie internationale Canada francophone
René J. Basque, c.r./Q.C., Président/President, L’Association du Barreau canadien/Canadian Bar Association	Refugee Lawyers Association	Refugee Law Office
Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth Ontario	The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL)	Criminal Lawyers Association (CLA)
Peel Children’s Aid Society	Children’s Aid Society of Toronto	University of Toronto Department of Pediatrics
Kwame McKenzie, MD, Chair of the Government Relations Committee of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto	David White, MD CCFP FCFP Professor & Interim Chair, Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto	Sociocultural Consultation and Interpretation Services of the Montreal Children’s Hospital
Multicultural Clinic of the Montreal Children’s Hospital	Laurence Kirmayer, Division of Transcultural Psychiatry McGill University	Réseau d’intervention auprès des personnes ayant subi la violence organisée (RIVO)
Unité de Pédiatrie Interculturelle du Centre de recherche du CHU-Ste Justine	British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA)	Deepa Mattoo, Legal Director, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Inter Clinic Immigration Working Group	Action Refugiés Montréal	UNISON Community Legal Clinic
Kensington Bellwoods Community Legal Clinic	South Asian Community Legal Clinic of Ontario	Metro Toronto Chinese Southeast Asian Legal Clinic
Rexdale Community Legal Clinic	HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario	Jewish Refugee Action Network
Romero House	FCJ Refugee Centre	Centre de recherche Sherpa de l’Institut universitaire au regard des communautés culturelles

1. Mulugeta Abai	2. Amanda Abate, MD, Toronto	3. Sakina Abbas, RN, Toronto
4. Elia Abi-Jaoude, MSc, MD, FRCPC, Staff Psychiatrist, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto	5. John Abrams, Lawyer, Hamilton	6. Parul Agarwal, MD, FRCPC, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Toronto
7. Dr. Yusra Ahmad, MD, FRCPC Psychiatrist affiliated with St. Michael’s Hospital and Women’s College Hospital	8. Tane Akamatsu, Psychologist, Toronto District School Board, Toronto, ON	9. Paul Alexander, Barrister, Toronto
10. Fernando Alvarez, MD Professeur de Pédiatrie Université de Montreal	11. Shiva Amri, scientist, Toronto	12. Isabel Anbdariza, MSW, RSW, RP, Toronto
13. Leslie M. Anderson, Barrister & Solicitor, The Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples, Toronto, ON	14. M. Keyshawn Anderson, Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto	15. Amy Andrews Alexander, MD, MHSc, CCFP, Palliative Care and Psychosocial Oncology, Southlake Regional Cancer Centre, Newmarket
16. Alison Arnot, MD, FCFP, Lecturer Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto	17. Jagpreet Arora, MD, CCFP, Toronto	18. Alison Ashamalla, MD, CCFP, Toronto
19. Robin D. Bajer, lawyer, Robin D. Bajer Law Office, Vancouver	20. Cristina Balaita, Medical Student, University of Toronto	21. Tian Tian (Phoebe) Bao, MD, University of Toronto
22. Karin Baqi, Barrister & Solicitor, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario	23. Lucy Barker, MD, Psychiatry Resident, Toronto	24. J. Barrett
25. Ahmed Bayoumi, MD, Physician and Professor, University of Toronto	26. Julie Beauchamp, Articling Student, Refugee Law Office	27. Caroline Beauregard, professeure suppléante en art-thérapie à l’UQAT, Montréal
28. Dr. Melanie Bechard, Toronto	29. Michaela Beder, MD, FRCPC, Psychiatrist, Lecturer, University of Toronto, Toronto	30. Maria Pilar Pia Bejar, Victoria
31. Coline Bellefleur, Avocate, Montreal	32. Max Berger, Lawyer, Toronto	33. Dominique Bergeron, Montreal
34. Gebre Berihun, Health Promoter	35. Joanna Berry, Student-at-law, Toronto	36. Subodh S. Bharati, Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto
37. Gabrielle Bibas, MD, Pediatric Resident, Vancouver	38. Anne Biringer, MD, Family Physician, Toronto	39. Sheila Block, Lawyer, Toronto
40. Wendell Block, MD, Toronto	41. Stewart Blott, Board Member ARM, Montreal	42. Joshua Blum, Barrister & Solicitor, Jared Will & Associates, Toronto
43. Andrea Bobadilla, PhD(c), Western University, Toronto	44. Lara Bober, PhD, Charlottetown	45. Jacqueline Bonisteel, Associate, Corporate Immigration Law Firm, Ottawa
46. Chris Borst, Program Analyst for Children’s Services, City of Hamilton	47. Amanda Botelho, Caseworker/Operations, Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support, Kitchener	48. Elise Bourgeois-Guérin, psychologue, centre de recherche SHERPA, Montréal
49. Jane Bourke	50. Mary Boyce, Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto	51. Nikki Bozinoff, MD
52. Mahli Brindamour, MD, FRCPC, General pediatrician, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon	53. Andrew Brouwer, CS, Barrister and Solicitor, Senior Counsel-Refugee Law, Legal Aid Ontario, Toronto	54. Catherine Bruce, Director, Refugee Law Office, Toronto
55. S. Budd	56. Verity Buskard, RN(C), Vancouver	57. Evelyn Calugay
58. Denise Canso, Policy & Program Manager, Ontario Psychiatric Outreach Program, Toronto	59. Patricia Cavanagh, MD, FRCPC	60. Francine Challenger, Analyst, Toronto
61. Jessica Chandrashekar, PhD Candidate (York University), JD Candidate (Osgoode Hall Law School), Toronto	62. Nate Charach, Psychiatrist, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto	63. Alison Charlebois, MD, Family Physician, Toronto
64. Timothy Chung, Medical Student, University of Toronto, Toronto	65. Tom Clark, Member CCR, Toronto	66. Janet Cleveland, Chercheure et psychologue, Centre de recherche SHERPA (Université McGill), Montréal
67. Gregory Cohen, MD, Resident in Psychiatry, University of Toronto	68. Tessa Colthoff, Drs. C. Psych. Assoc.	69. Victoria Cook, MSc, MD, FRCPC (Pediatrics), Vancouver
70. Faith Cormier	71. Micheal Crane, Lawyer, Toronto, ON	72. Candace Creighton, MD, UBC Paediatric Resident, Vancouver
73. Tyler Curtis, MD, Family Physician, Toronto	74. Diana Da Silva, MSW Candidate, York University, Toronto	75. Aris Daghighian, Barrister & Solicitor, Co-Chair CARL Advocacy Committee
76. Liz Darling, RM PhD, Midwifery Group of Ottawa, Ottawa	77. Matthew Davies, OCT, Toronto	78. George Dei, Professor, OISE
79. Hannah Deloughery, Toronto	80. Laila Demirdache, Staff Lawyer, Community Legal Services Ottawa	81. Avram Denburg, MD, Paediatrician, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
82. Johanna Dennie, Staff Immigration and Refugee Lawyer, Legal Assistance of Windsor, Windsor	83. James Deutsch, MD, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Toronto	84. Elizabeth Docherty, Montreal
85. Kelly Doctor, Lawyer, Goldblatt Partners LLP	86. Katie Dorman, MSc MD CCFP, University of Toronto, Toronto	87. Kathleen Doukas, MD, CCFP
88. Anna Du Vent	89. Rose Dymetryszyn, MD, FRCP(C)	90. Cheryl Eadie, MSW, RSW, Mental Health Social Worker, Inner City Family Health Team, Toronto
91. Anne Egger, Nurse Practitioner, Toronto	92. Nadia El Ghandouri, Lawyer, Quebec City	93. Kent Elson
94. Gail Erlick Robinson MD, FRCPC	95. Marie Eykel, comédienne et animatrice, Montréal	96. Alison Eyre
97. Gabriel Fabreau MD, MPH, FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, General Internal Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary	98. David Fancy, PhD	99. Jerome Fanmi Olorunpomi
100. Mike Fazio, MD, Vancouver, BC	101. Carole Fiore, avocate en immigration, Montreal	102. Sarah Follett, MD, Sherbourne Health Centre, Toronto
103. Conchita Fonseca, MD, CFPC-EM, Ottawa	104. Lana Frado, Executive Director, Sound Times Support Services	105. R.A. Frager, Associate Prof., History Department, McMaster University
106. Michelle Fraser, MD, CCFP Peterborough, ON	107. Suleiman Furmli, MD	108. Gerald F. Gabriel, Lay Pastoral Associate, RC Diocese of Charlottetown, Charlottetown PEI
109. Amy Gajaria, MD, Psychiatry resident, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Toronto	110. Miriam Garfinkle, MD, Toronto	111. Denise Gastaldo, associate professor, University of Toronto, Toronto
112. Melinda Gayda, Lawyer, Refugee Law Office, Legal Aid Ontario, Toronto	113. Sharon Gazeley, MD, FCFP, Family Physician, Toronto	114. Nir Gepner, Staff Lawyer, Willowdale Community Legal Services
115. Marcy Gerstein	116. David Gifuni, medical student, Western University, London	117. James Gildiner, Barrister and Solicitor, Toronto
118. Avvy Go, lawyer	119. Ritika Goel, MD, MPH, CCFP, Family Physician and Lecturer, University of Toronto, Toronto	120. Tyler Goettl, Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto
121. Luin Goldring, Professor of Sociology, York University	122. Brydon Gombay, Ed. D., Retired Community Psychologist, Toronto	123. Daniel Gorman, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
124. John Graham-Pole, Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics	125. Daniela Graziano, MSc, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto	126. Mia Grillakis, Registered Nurse OIIQ, Montreal
127. Hanna Gros, Senior Fellow at the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law	128. Lara Guest, Lawyer, Toronto	129. August Guillaume, Edmonton, Retired
130. Melini Gupta, MD, Toronto	131. Christina Gural, Lawyer, Toronto	132. Gordon Guyatt, MD, Distinguished University Professor, McMaster University, Hamilton
133. Jaswant Guzder, MD, McGill Professor of Psychiatry	134. Ken Harrison, MD, Reconnect Community Health Services	135. Salwa Hasan, medical student, Toronto
136. Nikki Healey, Social Worker	137. Guida Heir, Immigration and Refugee Lawyer, Vancouver	138. Helly, professeur, INRS, Montréal
139. Margaret Hennig, Kitchener	140. Ryan Herriot, MD, CCFP, Family Physician and Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Practice	141. Manisha Hladio, MD, Family Medicine Resident, Hamilton
142. Norrie Hodge, Retired, Delta, British Columbia	143. Jacqueline Holiff, MD, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Resident, University of Toronto, Toronto	144. Tim Holland, M.D, Halifax
145. Debbie Honickman, MD, MDPAC Creemore	146. Barb Hood, NP	147. Jia Hu, MD, Toronto
148. Charles Hui, MD, FRCPC, Chief of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa, Ottawa	149. Katrina Hui, MD,Resident Physician, Toronto	150. Andrea Hunter, MD, FRCPC, Associate Professor, Pediatrics, McMaster University
151. Julia Huys, Barrister and Solicitor, Street Youth Legal Services, Toronto	152. Melissa Tierney, Calgary, AB	153. Stella Iriah, Barrister & Solicitor, RLA Member, Toronto
154. Andrew Irvine, MD, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver	155. Beverley Jackson, MD, CCFP, Toronto	156. Zahra Jaffer, MB, ChB, CCFP Family Physician, Weeneebayko General Hospital
157. Annie Jaimes, MA, PhDc, UQAM et CIUSSS Centre-Ouest de l’Ile de Montréal, Montréal	158. Martyna A. Janjua, PhD candidate, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto	159. Brandy Jensen
160. Marcella Jones, Medical Student, University of Toronto	161. Jonathon W. Jurmain	162. Joyce Kalsen, Executive Director, Ancaster, ON
163. Menaka Kanendran, Refugee Law Office, Toronto	164. Sumaya Karimi, Program Coordinator (Afghan Women’s Organization)	165. Zehra Kavame, Administrative Coordinator-Action Réfugiés Montréal
166. Bushra Khan, MD Candidate 2018, McMaster University, Hamilton	167. Sumeet Khanna, MD, Toronto	168. Sean Kidd, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Toronto, Department of Psychiatry, Toronto
169. Christopher Kitamura, MD, Psychiatrist, University of Toronto	170. Dr. Linda Klapwyk, MD, CCFP, FCFP Family Physician	171. Diana Kljenak, MD, Ontario Psychiatric Association President
172. Andrew Koch, Health Planner, Unison Health & Community Services	173. Sophia Koukoui, chercheur postdoctoral en pédopsychiatrie transculturelle, Université McGill, Montréal	174. Rachel Kronick, MD, FRCPC, MSc, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Division of Child Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal
175. Ekta Kumar, Montreal	176. George Kurien, Toronto	177. Sameer Kushwaha, BSc, MD Candidate (2018), Toronto
178. Cathy Lace, Lawyer, Goldblatt Partners, Toronto	179. Audrey L-Lachaîne, Stagiaire postdoctorante SHERPA, Montréal	180. Janique Johnson-Lafleur, Coordonnatrice de recherche, Centre de recherche SHERPA, Montréal, Québec
181. Justin Lam, Medical Student, Toronto	182. Dorothy Lander, Professor Antigonish	183. Aria Laskin, Lawyer, Toronto
184. Samara Laskin, MD, Paediatric Resident Physician, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver	185. Jessica Leah, MD, Toronto	186. Mary Jo Leddy, Order of Canada
187. Victoria Lee, MD, Psychiatrist, Toronto	188. Peggy Lee, Immigration Lawyer, Vancouver	189. Janet Lee-Evoy MD, Psychiatry Resident, University of Toronto
190. Jaime Lefebvre, Lawyer at South Ottawa Community Legal Services, Ottawa	191. Annick Legault, avocate, Montréal	192. Sabine Lehr, Associate Faculty, Royal Roads University, Victoria
193. Joel Lexchin MD, FCFP, University Health Network, Toronto	194. Esther Lexchin, Barrister and Solicitor, Toronto	195. Benjamin Liston, Staff Lawyer, Refugee Law Office
196. Hung-tat Lo, MD, Hong Fook Mental Health Association, Toronto	197. Samuel Loeb, Barrister and Solicitor, Toronto	198. Clifford Luyt
199. Alex A. MacDonald, Medical Student, University of Toronto, Toronto	200. Anousheh Machouf, Psychologue, CIUSSS Centre Ouest, Montréal	201. Donna MacLachlan, MD
202. Ruth MacLeod, RN Community Health	203. Dr. Athena Madan, University of Toronto	204. Julie Maggi, MD, FRCPC, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto
205. Minoo Mahmoudi, MD, FRCPC, staff psychiatrist at Youthdale Treatment Centre, Toronto	206. Mayoori Malankov, student-at-law, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario	207. Roy Male, MD, Regent Park Community Health Centre, Toronto
208. Arfeen Malick, MSc, MD, Resident Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto	209. Lucy Manchester, MD, Toronto	210. Kathleen Manion, Assistant Professor, School of Humanitarian, Royal Roads University Studies, Royal Roads University
211. Alyssa Manning, Refugee Law Office	212. Karen Manzo, Refugee Law Office, Toronto	213. Kristin Marshall, Lawyer, Toronto
214. Azad Mashari, MD, FRCPC, Anesthesiologist, Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto	215. Caitlin Maxwell, Principal Lawyer, Equity Legal/Staff Lawyer, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic	216. Cornelia Mazgarean, Review Counsel in the Immigration Division at the Community and Legal Aid Services Programme, Osgoode Hall Law School
217. Clifford McCarten, Lawyer at McCarten Wallace Litigation, Toronto	218. Susan McGrath C.M., PhD, Professor, Centre for Refugee Studies, York University	219. Jenn McIntyre, Romero House Director, Toronto
220. Elizabeth McWeeny, CM, Former President of Canadian Council for Refugees, Thunder Bay	221. Elise Mercier, Student, Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto	222. Colin Meyer-Macaulay MD, FRCPC, General Pediatrician and Critical Care Fellow
223. Shafiq Mohamed MD, University of Toronto Family Medicine Resident, Barrie	224. Petra Molnar, Toronto	225. Sheila Monteiro, Barrister and Solicitor, Toronto
226. Soraya Mumtaz, MD, FRCPC, Psychiatrist, Toronto	227. Alpna Munshi, MD, Toronto	228. Samer Muscati, Director of the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law
229. Alexandra Musten	230. Mariam Naguib, MD Candidate 2020	231. Sideeka Narayan RN, MPH
232. Kathy Nash, Nurse Practitioner, Regent Park CHC, Toronto	233. Omaira Naweed	234. Krista Nerland, Lawyer, Toronto
235. Heather Neufeld, Barrister and Solicitor	236. Adeena Niazi, Executive Director, AWO, Toronto	237. Elena Nica-Graham, MD, Psychiatrist, Toronto
238. Dr. Shelly Nixon, OACAS, Toronto	239. Oluwakemi Oduwole, Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto	240. Catherine Oliver, MD, Family Physician, Toronto
241. Feyisayo Oni, Immigration Law Division Leader at CLASP, Toronto	242. Jeremy Opolsky, Lawyer, Toronto	243. Joanne Opsteen, PHC-NP, Toronto, Ontario
244. Guylaine Ouimette, présidente - Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec	245. Oscar E. Palma, Barrister & Solicitor, Ottawa, ON	246. Crystal Pang, chiropodist, EECH, Toronto
247. Anne-Claire Pâquet-De Varennes, fellow en pédiatrie sociale à l’Hôpital de Montréal pour Enfants, Montréal	248. Rosalinda Paredes, Community Legal Worker	249. Olivia Parkes, MSW, RSW, Toronto
250. Nick Parle	251. Sabrina Pascoe, Toronto	252. Llijah Pearce, Registered Nurse at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto
253. Madison Pearlman, Law Student, Winnipeg	254. Jeanette Pedersen, Calgary	255. N. Perez, MD, Toronto
256. Chelsea Peterdy, Barrister and Solicitor, Refugee Law Office, Legal Aid Ontario	257. Norbert Piché, Directeur national du Service jésuite des réfugiés, Montréal	258. Cassandra Porter, Lawyer, Goldblatt Partners LLP, Toronto
259. Emma Preston, BSc, PhD, MDCM, Family Medicine Resident, Vancouver	260. Anna Purkey, Assistant Professor, Legal Studies, St. Jerome’s University, Waterloo	261. Debbie Rachlis, Lawyer, Lorne Waldman Professional Corporation, Toronto
262. Ashley Raeside, Medical Student, University of Toronto	263. Howard Ramos, Professor of Sociology, Dalhousie University, Halifax	264. Katherine Ramsey, Barrister & Solicitor, Refugee Law Office, Toronto
265. Nicolas Ranger - Avocat - Bureau des services juridiques intégrés d’Ottawa - Aide juridique Ontario	266. Meb Rashid, MD, CCFP, Toronto	267. Paula Ravitz MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
268. Danyaal Raza, MD MPH CCFP, Family Physician, Toronto	269. Sarah Reaburn, RN (C), Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories	270. Vanessa Redditt, MD, CCFP, Family Physician, Toronto
271. Allison Rhoades, Barrister and Solicitor, Refugee Law Office	272. Michael Richardson, Family Physician, Toronto	273. Marie-Lyne Roc, travailleuse sociale, Chargée d’affaires professionnelles, OTSTCFQ, Montréal
274. Myanca Rodrigues, Medical Student, Toronto	275. Lyn Rondeau, MSW, RSW, Vancouver	276. Matthew Roorda, PhD, PEng, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto
277. Daniel Rosenbaum, MD, Resident, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto	278. Cécile Rousseau Professeur Université McGill, Montréal	279. Jennifer Ryan, Barrister and Solicitor, Toronto
280. Geraldine Sadoway, Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto	281. Najib Safieddine, MD, Thoracic Surgeon, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto	282. Giselle Salinas, Lawyer at Salinas Law, Toronto
283. Leigh Salsberg, Lawyer, Toronto	284. Deanna Santos, Lawyer, Markham, Ontario	285. Macdonald Scott, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant Carranza LLP
286. Marie Serdynska, Coordinator, Sociocultural Consultation and Interpretation Services	287. Silvia Serpas, MSW Candidate, Kitchener	288. Ashley Sharpe, RN, PHC, Halifax
289. Omid Shearkhani, HBSc, Medical Student, University of Toronto, Toronto	290. Hasan Sheikh, MD, Emergency Medicine, Toronto	291. Alexandra Shelley, Lawyer, Toronto
292. Ivan Silver, MD, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto	293. Dr. Stephanie J. Silverman	294. Aaron Silverman, MD, University of Toronto
295. Joan Simalchik, Professor and Director, Women and Gender Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga	296. Anne Smart Educator, JGH Child Psychiatry, Montreal	297. Brenna Sobanski, Refugee Settlement Worker, Romero House, Toronto
298. Melanie Spence, RN, Toronto	299. Arianne St Jacques, MD Resident in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Toronto	300. Debra Stein, MD, FRCPC Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Hincks Dellcrest Centre, Toronto
301. Jim Sugiyama, MD	302. Michelle Sultan, MD, Mississauga	303. Anjum Sultana, MPH, public health professional
304. Nadiya Sunderji, MD MPH FRCPC, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto	305. Alia Sunderji, MD, Pediatrics Resident, University of Toronto	306. Zafir Syed
307. Me Suzanne Taffot, Lawyer, Montreal	308. Sherry Telford	309. Pierre-Andre Theriault, Barrister and Solicitor, Toronto
310. Mary Thibodeau, Student-at-Law, Toronto	311. Karina Thompson, Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto	312. Mara Tietzen, MD, Vancouver
313. Susan Tilley, Professor, Brock University St. Catharines	314. Biljana Vasilevska, Research Coordinator, McMaster University, Hamilton ON	315. Ketan Vegda, MD, Psychiatrist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
316. Francisco Villegas, Assistant Professor, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan	317. Alan Wai, MD, Toronto	318. Simon Wallace, Lawyer, Toronto
319. Annie Wang, Medical Student, University of Toronto, Toronto	320. Nastasia Wasilewski, Medical Student, University of Toronto, Toronto	321. Priya Watson, MD, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Toronto
322. Ashley Wazana, MD, Child Psychiatrist, McGill University, Montreal	323. Richard Wazana, Lawyer, Toronto	324. Madeleine Wazana, Toronto
325. Jacqueline Weiss, MD, Child Psychiatrist, Youthdale Treatment Centre, Toronto	326. Don Wells, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Labour Studies and Political Science, McMaster University, Hamilton	327. Russ Weninger, Lawyer, Calgary
328. Sheila Wijayasinghe, MD, CCFP Family Physician and Lecturer, University of Toronto	329. Virginia Wilson, Community Legal Worker, Refugee Law Office	330. Robyn Winterbottom, MD, Resident in Psychiatry, University of Toronto
331. Mieszko J. Wlodarczyk, Barrister & Solicitor, CLA, RLA, CARL, Toronto	332. Mandy Wojcik, Lawyer, Toronto	333. Angela Wong, Staff Lawyer at Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, Toronto
334. Susan Woolhouse, Family Physician, Toronto	335. Vanessa Wright, NP-PHC, Toronto	336. Edward Xie MD, Toronto
337. Sarah Yachison, PhD Candidate, Toronto	338. Mary Yang, MD, University of Toronto	339. Joyce Yedid, Attorney, Montreal
340. Judy Young Drache, ret’d public servant, Ottawa	341. Farzana Yusuf, Community health Worker, Toronto	342. Marcia Zemans, MD, FRCPC, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto

References

These figures do not account for all children who are not subject to formal detention orders, but are de facto detainees alongside their parent(s). Canada Border Services Agency, “Minors in detention – by client status” (4 November 2015) (obtained through access to information request by IHRP, A-2015-15845/MZM).
International Human Rights Program, UN Human Rights Committee’s 2015 Concluding Observation on Canada, online: University of Toronto Faculty of Law, International Human Rights Program http://ihrp.law.utoronto.ca/un-human-rights-committees-2015-review-canada
“Detention centres no place for migrant children, critics argue”, CBC News (14 December 2012) online: CBC News Canada http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/detention-centres-no-place-for-migrant-children-critics-argue-1.1169993
“Glory Anawa’s [sic] shares her story from a [sic] immigrant detention centre”, CBC Radio (24 January 2015) (interview) online: CBC Radio, DNTO with Sook-Yin Lee http://www.cbc.ca/radio/dnto/glory-anawa-s-shares-her-story-from-a-immigrant-detention-centre-1.2926970
Carmen Cheung & Samer Muscati, “An Inexcusable Travesty: Canada sent a Syrian Minor to Solitary Confinement”, Opinion-Editorial, The Globe and Mail (17 February 2016) online: Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/an-inexcusable-travesty-canada-sent-a-syrian-minor-to-solitary-confinement/article28781118/
Rachel Kronick, Cécile Rousseau & Janet Cleveland, “Asylum-seeking Children’s Experiences of Detention in Canada: A Qualitative Study” (2015) 85:3 American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 287.
Ann Lorek et al, “The Mental and Physical Health Difficulties of Children Held Within a British Immigration Detention Center: A Pilot Study” (2009) 33 Child Abuse & Neglect 573 https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/research_docs/Yarl%27sWoodDoctor%27sReport.pdf
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, RSC 2001, c 27 http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/i-2.5/fulltext.html
Ibid s 25.
Ibid s 60.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Beyond Detention: A Global Strategy to support governments to end the detention of asylum-seekers and refugees, online: UNHCR http://www.unhcr.org/53aa929f6
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, Report of the 2012 Day of General Discussion: The Rights of all Children in the Context of International Migration, online: UNOHCHR http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/docs/discussion2012/ReportDGDChildrenAndMigration2012.pdf
Ibid at 18.
François Crépeau, Any detention of migrant children is a violation of their rights and must end, (7 September 2016) online: theconversation.com, https://theconversation.com/any-detention-of-migrant-children-is-a-violation-of-their-rights-and-must-end-64985
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, GA Res 217 (III), UNGAOR, 3d Sess, Supp No 13, UN Doc A/810, (1948) http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/
Convention on the Rights of the Child, Treaty Series 1577 (1989), 3, online: UNOHCHR http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx
Child and Family Services Act, RSO 1990, Chapter c 11, s 1(2).
Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, RSA 2000, c C-12, s 2; Child, Family and Community Service Act, RSBC 1996, c 46, s 2, 4; Child and Family Services Act, CCSM c C80, Preamble, s.2(1); Family Services Act, SNB 1983, c F-2.2, Preamble, s 1; Children and Youth Care and Protection Act, SNL2010, c C-12.2, s. 9(2); Children and Family Services Act, SNS 1990, c 5, s 2, 3(2); Child Protection Act, SPEI 2000, c 3 (2nd Sess), Preamble; Youth Protection Act, CQLR, c P-34.1, s 4; Child and Family Services Act, SS 1989-90, c C-7.2, s 3.
Janet Cleveland & Cécile Rousseau, “Psychiatric Symptoms Associated with Brief Detention of Adult Asylum Seekers in Canada” (2013) 58:7 Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 409.
International Detention Coalition, There are Alternatives: A Handbook for Preventing Unnecessary Immigration Detention (Revised Edition), online: http://idcoalition.org/publication/view/there-are-alternatives-revised-edition/

Last updated: November, 2016