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Deserters face deportation from Canada

TORONTO — The War Resisters Support Campaign says a former U.S. soldier living in Nanaimo, B.C., has been told he must leave Canada by Dec. 24 or face removal by force.

Cliff Cornell, originally from Arkansas, arrived in Canada in January 2005 after refusing to deploy to Iraq, and he now works as an assistant manager of a retail store.

Cornell’s deportation order follows similar orders for war resisters Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman and his family, Patrick Hart and his family, Matt Lowell and Dean Walcott.

Lee Zaslofsky, co-ordinator of the support group, is calling on Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to stop all deportations of war resisters.

The group wants the federal government to implement a motion adopted by Parliament in June recommending that “conscientious objectors” to wars not sanctioned by the United Nations be allowed to stay and apply for permanent resident status.

A spokesman for Kenney says the government “remains convinced” that U.S. military deserters are not genuine refugees.

Federal Court is to hear an appeal by Hinzman against his deportation order on Feb. 10.

“(Immigration) Minister Jason Kenney should stop all deportations, at least until the Federal Court has completed the Hinzman appeal,” Zaslofsky said.

“It would be a travesty if war resisters were deported, especially over the holidays, only to have the court find that they should be given another chance to apply to stay in Canada.”

Velshi Alykhan, spokesman for Kenney, said the government’s position remains unchanged.

“The government remains convinced that U.S. military deserters are not genuine refugees and do not fall under internationally accepted definitions of people in need of protection,” Alykhan said in an email.

“We have successfully advanced this position before three independent tribunals. ... We will continue to make this argument.”

The war resisters group says in a release that another resister, Kim Rivera, will receive a decision on Jan. 7.

Rivera served in Iraq and came to Canada with her husband Mario and their two children in early 2007.