Canadian Council for Refugees – Following recent changes to Canada’s refugee determination system, it may be tougher to protect refugees in Canada. Join us in showing Canadians and the world why we are still proud to protect refugees and refugee rights.

The Canadian Council for Refugees is suggesting that refugee advocates and allies find some way to show this publicly under the banner ‘Proud to protect refugees’ in Canada. Help send a positive message about refugees, in the face of the negative discourse and restrictive changes.

Get involved and show your pride in protecting refugees in Canada. Here are some ideas of actions and activities to get you started.

Dozens of people were interrogated, arrested, and detained by the Canadian Border Services Agency. One of them was my husband. Shockingly, some of these traumatic experiences were filmed for a reality TV show “Border Security” which airs on National Geographic Channel.

While intimidated and in custody, they were given consent forms to sign so their footage could be aired on TV. My husband refused to sign these forms because he recognized it was wrong, but other people who he is being detained with – some who speak little English – could not stand up to this coercion and signed under duress.  National Geographic claims to be “inspiring people to care about the planet” but with this show they are simply profiting off of human suffering and degradation.

The responsibility for this show falls on National Geographic Channel (owned by Shaw Media in Canada), Force Four Entertainment, and the Canadian Border Services Agency, which takes its orders from Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.

We are urging National Geographic Channel and Force Four Entertainment (the show’s production company), to cancel the show “Border Security” immediately, and for the Canadian Border Services Agency to stop participating in this program and conducting violent deportations.

Sign the petition now!

BCCLA – Travelling often means crossing borders. But being present at a border doesn’t mean that you consent to being filmed for any purpose related to making a TV show or other broadcast.The Canada Border Services Agency is collaborating with private companies to make a television show called Border Security. If you don’t want to be filmed at the border, you have to notify a crew member to accommodate your request.

Being present at border crossings should not mean consent to being filmed for any purpose related to making a television series. It is an infringement of privacy rights for the government or its partners to film and to use or disclose personal images or any information for the purposes of entertainment or “public information”, or to make any kind of television show or other broadcast.

Here are two things you can do to protect your privacy, and stop the CBSA from filming without your explicit consent:

Refuse and Revoke Your Consent

If you have crossed the border recently or if you plan to travel to the United States, you might be a part of the Border Security TV show without even knowing it. Protect your privacy rights by letting Canada Border Services Agency know that you refuse your permission to have your private travel featured on reality TV. It only takes a few minutes. The BCCLA will communicate that you do not want your information used to the appropriate authorities.

Participate in the BCCLA’s Privacy Complaint

If you have crossed the border recently or if you plan to travel to the United States, you might be a part of the Border Security TV show without even knowing it. Would you like to protect your privacy rights by letting Canada Border Services Agency know that you refuse your permission to have your private travel featured on reality TV?

More details here