Many people ask if under the Trudeau government there will be changes made to the immigration system that will ease up border controls; controls which were intensified under Stephen Harper. We know that Canada is founded on and continues to exist because of the everyday violence and oppression created by capitalism and colonialism. Although more migrants may theoretically be permitted entry on a permanent basis under Trudeau, a reality yet to even be seen, there will always be an exploited and criminalized underclass of migrants that the Canadian nation and it's government relies upon, both economically for profits, and morally, to maintain the facade of the government's 'legitimate' right to ownership and management of Canadian territory.
As an example, we can think of the Trudeau government's recent welcoming of Syrian refugees. While yes, certain Syrian refugees made it to so-called Canada, others (the Syrian families not chosen, as well as single men, lower class, criminalized, and migrants from other parts of the world) are not permitted the freedom to move.
To resist the everyday violences normalized in Canadian society, we must strengthen our community autonomy, by seeking long term solutions in local affinity based, or otherwise cohesive, communities on the island of what is known as Montreal. Rather than turning to the government for the solutions to our survival and the survival of those around us, we must turn to our neighbours and work on building community support, accountability and longevity based on anti-oppressive, anticolonial, and anticapitalist principles. Solidarity Across Borders' Solidarity City Campaign is built on these principles and a belief that we need to take care of each other right now. By supporting each other, we build communities based on mutual aid, rather than reproducing societies based on racist exploitation, occupation, and colonial violence.
A part of how we are currently trying to build a Solidarity City is by demanding that women's shelters, hospitals, schools, foodbanks, co-operative housing, and social housing, never ask for immigration status when offering services. As we make these demands, we are also creating our own networks of support and in doing so, creating alternatives to the oppressive structures that surround us. These networks of mutual aid can look like a lot of different things. From strengthening relationships and sharing knowledge during community dinners, to preventing the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) entrance into the women's shelter you work at; from showing up to calls for action made by local Indigenous communities, to taking care of someone's kids so they can attend a meeting, there are ways all of us can participate in the creation of a Solidarity City. Where Do We Go From Here? Many people ask if under the Trudeau government there will be changes made to the immigration system that will ease up border controls; controls which were intensified under Stephen Harper. We know that Canada is founded on and continues to exist because of the everyday violence and oppression created by capitalism and colonialism. Although more migrants may theoretically be permitted entry on a permanent basis under Trudeau, a reality yet to even be seen, there will always be an exploited and criminalized underclass of migrants that the Canadian nation and it's government relies upon, both economically for profits, and morally, to maintain the facade of the government's 'legitimate' right to ownership and management of Canadian territory.
Of course, these are practices and methods for survival and resistance that have always been deployed within marginalized and oppressed communities. The Solidarity City campaign is just one example of a means to connect these communities and networks across Montreal. For more information about the Solidarity City campaign, check out our declaration: https://www.solidarityacrossborders.org/en/solidarity-city/solidarity-ci.... If you are interested in getting involved with Solidarity Across Borders, email solidaritesansfrontieres @ gmail.com for more information.