Controversial whistleblower Chelsea Manning fighting to be let into Canada
CBC
Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. intelligence analyst who was convicted in one the largest breaches of classified information in American history, is fighting to be allowed into Canada.
The Canadian government is seeking to ban her from entering the country, arguing that she should be denied entry because of the serious criminality of her prior convictions on espionage charges in her home country.
Manning is appearing virtually today in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board for an admissibility hearing. The administrative tribunal makes decisions about who can enter and stay in Canada.
Her case dates back to September 2017, when border officers denied her entry at Quebec's St-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing. At the time, the government, citing her espionage charge, argued that if it had been committed in Canada "this offence would equate to an indictable offence, namely, treason."
Anthony Lashley, a lawyer for the CBSA, said the government is asking the tribunal to issue Manning a removal order and rule that she is not permitted to enter again.
In his opening statement, Manning's lawyer Joshua Blum argued her American offences are not equivalent to Canadian offences, making her not inadmissible.
He pointed to a provision in the Security of Information Act, Canada's national secrets act, which includes whistleblower protection in the "public interest."