Anonymous submission to MTL Counter-info

BACKGROUND

The Canadian government is attempting to construct a new migrant prison in Laval, QC. The building, set to be built by 2021, would hold 158 people, including children, increasing the government’s capacity to control and deport migrants in a context of rising xenophobia and racism across Canada and in Quebec specifically. Though the prison is being billed as “more humane” than the current detention centre, it’s clear that aesthetic improvements will not stop this from being a prison: it will still rip people from their families and communities and be an integral part of the deportation machine.

The land at the site of the proposed new migrant prison has been readied for construction, and the bidding process for the General Contractor has begun. On February 20th, a group of people shut down a planned visit to the construction site for interested companies. They talked to company representatives about the nature of the project and why they should not participate in building this prison. Many companies are unfortunately still bidding for the contract.

Let’s show these companies that there is widespread disapproval for this project, and that there will be resistance if construction begins! WE HAVE UNTIL MARCH 20TH, the deadline for bids, to get these companies to pull out of the process.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Individuals

Join the campaign to let these companies know that what they’re doing is reprehensible! Get together with friends and family, send some emails, make some calls, or send some faxes between now and MARCH 20TH.

Free faxes can be sent using any of the following websites: https://www.gotfreefax.com https://faxzero.com

When you get in touch with these companies, here’s a sample script you can draw on if you want:

Hello,

I’m [calling/e-mailing] you today to tell you that you should drop your bid for the Laval immigrant detention centre. It’s a morally reprehensible project, and it faces widespread opposition - being involved with it will reflect badly on your company. It’s designed to imprison and deport people who are trying to immigrate here, and it will rip apart families and violently take people out of their communities. That’s part of a racist approach to migration on the part of Canada that we need to challenge rather than support. It’s not something I stand for, and I’m far from alone in that position. Make the right choice and drop your bid for this project.

Groups

If you’re a community organization or activist group, sign up to host a call-in day!

We encourage you to ask your members to call/e-mail/fax on a day that you choose. Invite people to your space to make calls & send e-mails and faxes together!

With many groups signing up, we can have continued engagement with these companies over the month.

Your organization or group can sign up for a particular day using this calendar, and we’ll get in touch over email to see how we can help spread the word: https://framadate.org/rxAzKaJGOlXJkGzx

THE COMPANIES

These companies want to build a new migrant prison in Laval. Contact them to tell them to drop out of the bidding process!

COMPANY: Corporation de construction Germano REPRESENTATIVE NAME: Richard A. Germano TITLE: Président EMAIL: info@germanoconstruction.com PHONE: 450 668-7807 FAX: 450 668-5002

COMPANY: Construction SOCAM ltée REPRESENTATIVE NAME: Richard Paradis TITLE: Estimateur Senior EMAIL: r.paradis@socam.ca PHONE: 450 662-9000 #223 or 450 662-9000 FAX: 450 662-9838

COMPANY: Groupe Geyser REPRESENTATIVE NAME: Lina Tremblay TITLE: Estimateur EMAIL: ltremblay@groupegeyser.com PHONE: 450 625-2003 FAX: 450 625-2883

COMPANY: Tisseur Inc. REPRESENTATIVE NAME: Jacques Hosson TITLE: Estimateur EMAIL: estimation@constructiontisseur.ca PHONE: 819 322-1523 #258 FAX: 819 322-6766

COMPANY: Construction CYBCO EMAIL: info@cybco.ca PHONE: 514 284-2228

COMPANY: VCI Contrôles inc. REPRESENTATIVE NAME: Joseph Jacob TITLE: Chargé de projet EMAIL: jjacob@vcicontrols.ca , pcraig@vcicontrols PHONE: 450 442-3555 poste 101 FAX: 450 442-3337

COMPANY: Bruneau électrique Inc. EMAIL: info@bruneauelectrique.com PHONE: 514 353-4343, 450 759-6606 Fax: 450 759-2653

COMPANY: Standard Building Contractors REPRESENTATIVE NAME: Shane Ross TITLE: President EMAIL: shane@standard.builders PHONE: 613 847-7258

COMPANY: Securassure REPRESENTATIVE NAME: Matthew Poplaw TITLE: Sales EMAIL: matthew@securassure.ca PHONE: 514 373-3131 FAX: 1 855 439-9500