(This column originally appeared in the Toronto Sun)

Maryam Monsef was born in Iran, not Afghanistan as she once claimed.

Most Canadians have now heard about this story, and most fall into two broad categories.

Either they are sympathetic to Monsef’s story, believe she is the victim of a tragic childhood in war-torn Afghanistan, and consider her birthplace controversy another iteration of the hardships of being a refugee.

Or, they are skeptical of Monsef’s story, concerned about the legal implications for a person whose citizenship application is likely to have contained false information, eager for the law to be applied equally and worried about how a person can reach a top position of power in the government without basic facts about their life coming out.

I fall into the latter category.

I don’t believe Monsef is being forthright about her past. Her changing story, her time spent in Iran as an adult and her unwillingness to answer questions has led to major credibility issues in my mind.

And because I’m skeptical, I’ve been asking a lot of questions.

I’ve written more than a dozen articles — news reports and opinion pieces — uncovering facts and sharing my analysis about this evolving controversy.

While we at the Sun have been following this story closely, some other journalists have decided to ignore it.

Because these journalists appear to fall into the first category — sympathetic with Monsef and not skeptical — they seem to have decided facts are somehow irrelevant.

Some have decided it’s their job to attack me for asking questions.

For example, on Tuesday evening, CTV reporter Glen McGregor began berating me on Twitter for my interest in this story.

He claimed Monsef is a victim of “a clearly Draconian law” passed by Stephen Harper.

This is Liberal party spin, and it’s simply not true.

The law that may have been broken in Monsef’s case was passed in 1974 and has not substantially changed since.

But CTV’s top political reporter is using incorrect information to defend a cabinet minister and attempt to shame another journalist.

Likewise, Justin Ling, a popular blogger for the entertainment website Vice, also chimed in to criticize me.

In response to one of my recent news stories on Monsef, Ling wrote on Twitter, “many of us have researched the hell out of this story and, partisans be damned, decided it’s not newsworthy.”

Moments later, however, Ling claimed it remained unknown if Monsef’s passport contained incorrect information.

That information is not unknown.

Monsef’s office told me her passport incorrectly lists Herat, Afghanistan as her place of birth and other media have reported it as well.

Vice readers are left in the dark because Ling hasn’t taken the time to ask Monsef basic questions or read up on the story before deciding, “it’s not newsworthy”.

That is not “researching the hell out of this story.”

It’s pretending facts don’t exist.

Even if a journalist is sympathetic to Monsef, they shouldn’t let their feelings get in the way of the facts.

I didn’t go to journalism school. My background is in economics, international law and immigration policy.

As I’ve written before, I was former Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney’s press secretary from 2011 to 2012.

But in my time working as a journalist, I’ve learned that when a story doesn’t seem to add up, we should ask more questions.

Monsef’s story doesn’t add up.

So, despite the hecklers who occasionally sound like Liberal spin doctors, I’m going to ask more questions and try to get to the bottom of the Monsef controversy.

It was a significant week for the Conservatives last week, as they were able to force the Liberal government to support their opposition motion to start bringing in Yazidi refugees. The Yazidis are a religious minority based in northern Iraq and are a target for ISIS. According to the United Nations, ISIS is seeking to “erase the identity” of the Yazidi community through killings, sexual slavery, and other crimes. 

It’s unfortunate that it has taken the Liberal government a full year to act on this issue. While the Trudeau Liberals pat themselves on the back for welcoming thousands of refugees to Canada, they’ve been ignoring those who need Canada’s help the most. Immigration Minister John McCallum promised Canada would start to bring in Yazidi refugees within 4 months – let’s hope this isn’t another broken promise.

Speaking of broken promises – during last year’s election, Justin Trudeau promised to end Canada’s combat mission against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. However, during a briefing this month, military officers revealed Canadian special forces troops have been spending more time on the front lines and engaging in more firefights against ISIS. The Liberal government has refused provide further details about the mission. When asked about the lack of transparency, Prime Minister Trudeau simply accused the previous government of putting the Canadian Forces in harm’s way. How much longer can the Trudeau government blame the previous government for their own shortcomings? It’s sad and childish to blame Stephen Harper for everything…

Conservative MP and former Minister of Public Safety, Steven Blaney, officially launched his Conservative Leadership campaign by announcing his first major policy position – a ban on the niqab in the public service and while voting. Although there may be dozens of more pressing issues Mr. Blaney could’ve focused on instead of the niqab, he also mentioned the need to boost security measures in Canada and improve the citizenship test – discussions worth having.

(This column originally appeared in the Toronto Sun)

A file within the federal government has been opened to investigate Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef for citizenship fraud. And the Liberal government seems to be in denial about it.

The Sun exclusively reported that a file was opened to investigate Monsef, who claims she only recently learned she was born in Iran, not Afghanistan. A number of complaints were received through a tip line created by Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) and the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), leading to an investigation. It remains unknown whether Monsef’s proper birthplace information was included on her original refugee and citizenship application.

While the Immigration department refused to comment on the investigation, claiming privacy laws prevented them from discussing details, Monsef’s office issued a statement.

“Minister Monsef is not aware of any actions by IRCC,” wrote Monsef’s Director of Communications, John O’Leary, in an exclusive email sent to the Sun.

“It’s standard practice for IRCC to contact an applicant when they are reviewing a file,” wrote O’Leary. “That has not happened.”

When asked to verify how and why it is “standard practice” to inform someone of an investigation into their file, O’Leary simply repeated his line. “It’s standard practice.”

Informing a person of an investigation, however, is not the standard practice.

Like most areas of law, a person under investigation for citizenship fraud is only informed of an investigation once the investigation requires the person’s input.

“That defies common sense,” said Toronto-based immigration lawyer Guidy Mamann, when asked if it was standard practice to inform someone of a review.

“If someone is investigating you, are they going to call you and say ‘hi, we’re investigating you’? No.”

“There is a point during an investigation – sometimes during the beginning stages, sometimes in the end, and sometimes not at all – when a person will be informed,” said Mamann.

“But to say ‘there is no investigation because no one has told me about an investigation’ is absolutely ridiculous.”

“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Mamann. “If the police suspect that you killed someone, do they go up to you and say ‘we think you’ve killed someone so we’re now watching you’?”

“That doesn’t happen in the real world.”

A former citizenship judge with knowledge of citizenship fraud investigations agreed, saying point blank that the statement from Monsef’s office is “not accurate.”

“Anybody can be investigated,” said the former citizenship judge who asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to publicly discuss specific cases. “And of course the department can investigate someone without informing them.”

“If an investigation is taken to the next level, then yes, they contact the person. But not initially.”

It is unclear whether Monsef’s office was intentionally trying to…(READ MORE)

(This column originally appeared in the Toronto Sun)

A government file has been opened to investigate Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef for possible citizenship fraud, the Sun has learned. An investigation of this type could lead to a number of outcomes, including possible citizenship revocation.

The Sun has confirmed with multiple sources that complaints have been made to the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as well as to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), a division of the Department of Public Safety.

CBSA is responsible for enforcing the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. CBSA officials report to the Minister of Public Safety, Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, while IRCC officials report to the Minister of Immigration, Liberal MP John McCallum.

In 2011, in the aftermath of RCMP investigations discovering wide-spread citizenship fraud, the government established a tip line.

Much like Crime Stoppers, the line allows private citizens to anonymously contact the government and relay information relating to citizenship cases involving false representation, fraud or knowingly concealing material.

Three separate sources have told the Sun that the government has received such tips relating to the case of Maryam Monsef, leading to the opening of a file investigating possible citizenship fraud.

One source was told by a government official with direct knowledge of the case that “at least six different people had called with complaints on Ms. Monsef.”

When asked if IRCC was investigating Monsef, the government would…(READ MORE)

The True North Initiative submitted the following policy submission to the Department of Citizenship, Immigration and Refugees. It contains recommendations for both immigration levels in 2017, as well as the mix of immigration categories

The True North Initiative strongly believes that Canada’s immigration system should work towards Canada’s national interests – both from an economic and national security perspective. We believe in putting Canada first.

READ THE FULL DOCUMENT HERE

(This column originally appeared in the Toronto Sun)

Maryam Monsef’s birthplace controversy has made the news in Iran and likely caught the attention of the regime in Tehran too.

Iran’s state-controlled Fars News Agency wrote a report claiming Monsef is scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court of Canada in February about her immigration documents. The Farsi-language report states she faces deportation and citizenship revocation

This unverified report lacks credibility. Monsef’s office confirmed this, saying in an email, “it will come as no surprise that it’s not true.”

Fars is not credible; it’s considered a mouthpiece for the Islamic Republic of Iran. But the news agency’s interest in Monsef shows that the government of Iran is paying attention. Perhaps that is because of new information revealed about Monsef’s recent travels to that country.

When Monsef’s press secretary first told Postmedia’s David Akin that she travelled to Iran using an Afghan passport, it sounded like a mere stopover. Monsef’s spokesperson said “her ultimate destination was Afghanistan, where she wanted to visit her father’s resting ground to pay her respects, and work to empower women and girls.”

On Thursday, Monsef’s office revealed more information – that she entered Iran using a pilgrimage visa issued through the Pakistani embassy in Washington D.C.

Iran issues special pilgrimage visas for Shi’ite Muslims wishing to visit the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad – considered one of the holiest sites for Shi’ite Muslims.

The pilgrimage visa is issued for the single purpose of visiting holy sites and shrines in Iran. It is a single-entry visa that explicitly prohibits work or study in Iran.

The maximum stay on this type of visa is 30 days.

Monsef told local Peterborough journalist Mike Judson however that she stayed in Iran for…(READ MORE)

(This column originally appeared in the Toronto Sun)

Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef travelled to Iran using a religious pilgrimage visa and an Afghan passport. 

Nearly two weeks after questions were first put to Monsef about her extensive travel to Afghanistan and Iran in 2010, 2013 and 2014, her office has finally released a detailed statement, exclusive to the Sun.

“Minister Monsef travelled to Iran in each case on her Afghan passport, which she obtained at the Afghan Consulate in Toronto,” wrote John O’Leary, Monsef’s Director of Communications.

Iran is one of the most closed and secretive countries in the world. It is very difficult for private citizens from Canada to visit Iran. 

“In each case, she travelled to Iran on a pilgrimage visa, a common visa many Muslims use to visit holy sites in Iran.”  

Iran issues special pilgrimage visas for Shi’ite Muslims wishing to visit the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. This shrine is considered one of the holiest sites for Shi’ite Muslims. 

“On her trips, she visited the Imam Reza shrine holy sites as well as her family members,” O’Leary continued. 

New information that Monsef travelled with a pilgrimage visa, however, deviates from a statement issued by Monsef’s press secretary to Postmedia’s David Akin earlier this week. 

On Tuesday, Monsef’s office released a statement saying that she travelled to the region in order to go to Afghanistan. 

“Her ultimate destination was Afghanistan, where she wanted to visit her father’s resting ground to pay her respects, and work to empower women and girls,” Monsef’s press secretary wrote on Tuesday. 

“She was unable to travel there due to terrorism and violence. She briefly remained in Iran volunteering with the Afghan refugee community before returning to Canada.”

The original statement contained…(READ MORE)

(This column originally appeared in the Toronto Sun)

Despite finally being open about it on Tuesday, Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef wanted to keep her recent trip to Iran and Afghanistan “hush-hush,” according to an interview she did after returning to Canada in 2014.

In a YouTube interview with Mike Judson, dated December 6, 2014, Judson said “you had just done a visit back to Afghanistan, and it was kind of hush-hush.”

“Yeah,” replied Monsef.

“Do you still want that visit to remain hush-hush?” asked Judson.

“Sort of,” replied Monsef. “Not because of safety,” she said, although she didn’t explain why she wanted the trip to remain “hush-hush.”

Monsef said she was in Iran and planned to cross into Afghanistan by car. When they arrived at the border, however, the situation seemed unsafe.

“So we just did a U (turn),” said Monsef. “I got my passport stamped and got the visa stuff looked after, and just got back into the car and drove back.”

Instead, according to Monsef, she spent the next “two months or so” in Iran, from December 2013 until early 2014, staying with relatives and working with Afghan refugees in Iran.

Monsef claims she had no status in Iran, and that her family applied for asylum in Montreal. Typically, asylum seekers do not return to the country they fled. In fact, asylum is reserved for people who cannot return due to danger of persecution.

In the interview with Judson, Monsef also reveals…(READ MORE)

(This column originally appeared in the Toronto Sun)

Maryam Monsef says she visited Iran in 2014. Travelling to Iran, however, is no easy feat. Especially for a person carrying a Canadian passport.

I know from personal experience. In 2014, after my wedding, I wanted to travel to Iran to visit my new in-laws. My husband was born there, but hasn’t returned since his family immigrated to Canada in 1995.

I wanted to visit my husband’s extended family and see where he grew up. But I was repeatedly told it was not a good idea for a Canadian to go there.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism, the world’s biggest abuser of human rights and one of the most secretive governments in the world.

Iran’s mullahs have a bad habit of kidnapping visitors and using them as diplomatic pawns in their maniacal foreign policy.

In 2012, the Harper government expelled Iran’s diplomats from Canada, closed the Iranian embassy and cut diplomatic ties.

Iran reacted in early 2014 by imposing severe travel restrictions on Canadians.

Those with Canadian passports could no longer simply apply for a tourist visa. They were required to first sign up through a government-sponsored tour.

Much like in North Korea, Canadian tourists became required to travel with a state-approved guide.

Given the strained relationship between Iran and Canada at the time, and given Maryam Monsef’s status as an Afghan refugee and Canadian citizen, it is strange that she was able to visit Iran in 2014. Very strange.

According to her own account, she wanted to move back to Afghanistan for work, but was denied entry due to the deteriorating security situation. Instead, she told Le Devoir, she went to Iran and worked with Afghan refugees.

How long did she stay? Did she obtain…READ MORE