A group of about 10 protesters took to Water Street in St. John’s Saturday to rally against immigration, a carbon tax, and in favour of oil pipelines across the country.
While the group was small, passersby honked horns in support of the protesters, who brandished signs reading “Stand up Against Globalism,” “Canadians First,” and “Truth is the New Hate Speech,” among others.
The “Yellow Vest” movement, named for the vests worn by the protesters, take primary issue with the recent signing of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, of which Canada was one of 164 countries to adopt Dec. 10. Similar protests have happened across the country, and organizer Kenneth Winsor says he’s in regular contact with other Yellow Vest groups across the country.
The protesters claim the compact, put forward by the United Nations, will see up to 400,000 immigrants enter the country. That has them concerned.
“Where are 400,000 people suddenly going to find places to live?” Winsor asked.
The current immigration policy in Newfoundland and Labrador could see 1,700 new citizens coming into the province annually by 2022. The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Agreement, signed in 2016, offers 1,050 nominations for the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program, although it notes the amount of nominations may be higher, depending on demand.
"We don’t have any problem with migration, but look at the Canadians first"
— Mike Carter
The protesters say they have no issue with legal immigrants — which the UN compact is supports — but rather their concern is with illegal immigration into Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador.
But one protester had more to say about who she believes should be entering the country.
“Why are we not bringing in more Christian refugees that are being persecuted in Muslim countries?” asked Heather, who did not want to give her last name.
“The Christians and non-believers —they don’t have to be Christians — there’s a genocide. We have to be mindful of that.”
The federal government has no quota system for immigrants from any specific nation or religion, unless specific humanitarian crisis calls for specific attention. Since 2015, more than 58,000 Syrian refugees were resettled into Canada in response to the Syrian refugee crisis.
“We don’t have any problem with migration, but look at the Canadians first,” said Mike Carter, another protester on Saturday.
The notion that immigrants use social services more than the existing population is a myth, the provincial government says. It states that immigrants use fewer social services than those already living here.
While the Yellow Jacket group maintains its members are not racist and welcome all people who share their concerns, their concerns line up with white nationalists in this country. Former Toronto mayoral candidate Faith Goldy, who was fired from right-wing media organization Rebel Media for appearing on a white nationalist podcast in the United States, is also against the UN compact on immigration.
The UN compact is not legally binding on any of the signatory countries, despite claims from federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer that the compact would violate “Canadian sovereignty.”
On the provincial level, Progressive Conservative Party Leader Ches Crosbie, in a year-end interview in late December, stated he has no interest in supporting Scheer’s stance on immigration.
“It’s just not our issue, I think,” said Crosbie.
“We’re not that bothered by illegal border crossings, in fact we need more immigrants.”
The group members intend to continue their protests in front of the War Memorial on Water Street every Saturday for the foreseeable future.
Twitter: @DavidMaherNL
