An NDP Member of Parliament is urging the government to take steps to prevent Canadian businesses from engaging with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Heather McPherson shared a letter she wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney, emphasizing that Canada should not support actions that contribute to fascist violence and jeopardize the safety of American citizens.
McPherson proposed that the government should prohibit export permits for companies supplying equipment to ICE and withdraw any public funding or contracts from businesses involved with the agency. This call comes in response to ICE’s increased presence in cities like Minneapolis, where federal agents have been conducting operations targeting individuals deemed to be in the U.S. unlawfully.
The NDP MP highlighted concerns about Canadian companies conducting business with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE. Examples cited in her letter include Vancouver-based tech firm Hootsuite, which is providing social media services to DHS under a contract that commenced in August 2024. Hootsuite’s CEO, Irina Novoselsky, expressed disapproval of the ongoing events but clarified that their contract with ICE does not entail individual tracking or surveillance.
Additionally, scrutiny has been directed towards B.C. billionaire Jim Pattison for potentially selling a Virginia warehouse to DHS for ICE operations. ICE itself has placed a significant order for 20 armored vehicles from Canadian defense manufacturer Roshel.
McPherson’s advocacy against Canadian business dealings with ICE aligns with mounting public discontent over the agency’s actions, prompting calls for stricter measures to prevent complicity. The Prime Minister’s Office has been approached for comment on McPherson’s letter, as she vies for leadership within her party alongside four other candidates.