The claimant, Wei Wang, is a twenty-six-year-old Chinese national who claims refugee protection on the basis that the People’s Republic of China, as the agent of persecution, will punish him for his political opinion as expressed through his alleged writings of two novellas.

We agree that Mr Wang’s situation does not reach the threshold necessary for refugee protection. First, it is not clear that Mr Wang is the author of the writings provided. Mr Wang confirmed that none of the writings he shared had his name on them. Second, Mr Wang confirmed that the writings are fiction, and that they do not directly incite or call for political action on the part of readers. News articles provided by Mr Wang’s counsel discussing political dissidents convicted of inciting subversion and receiving prison sentences illustrate very different circumstances. The persons in those news stories were openly and clearly organizing protests and other acts of resistance against the Chinese government.

Finally, the panel believes that Mr Wang was seduced by Canada, having come as a visitor. While it is true that refugee claimants may become refugees after they leave their country of origin, in this case, Mr Wang’s delay in making a claim speaks to the lack of credibility of his fear and also lends credibility to his admission that he has come to love Canada and therefore desires to stay in Canada.

As Mother read the letter, Alfred looked as if a ghost had entered his body. Hopeful anticipation drained from his face, and he shrank into a pale, empty vessel. Bea and I couldn’t fight back our tears. Auntie Miriam looked outraged.

I didn’t understand. I was sure, after watching the hearing, that Alfred had won. I was convinced by Ms Wong’s performance. I could only conclude that no matter how polished Ms Wong was, how much she sounded like the ang mo lang, or how many pieces of paper she flashed in front of them, they would never see her, or Alfred, as one of them. The three short paragraphs of the decision made me question Father’s reverence for this orderly country. Looking at Alfred’s devastated face, I didn’t feel like the laws were working. I didn’t feel like the rules were fair. I didn’t feel like everyone had the same chance.

Weeks later, when Ms. Wong confirmed that an appeal to the federal court was dismissed, Auntie Miriam came over to discuss with Mother how Alfred could obtain sanctuary in Canada.

Alfred sat sullenly at one end of our kitchen table, with Mother and Auntie Miriam at the other. Bea and I sat on either side of Alfred, snacking on some cookies Mother had made that day.

“Swee Hua, please,” Auntie Miriam begged. “Alfred is virtually stateless, like Ah Loy was. I can’t do this without you. I need someone who can speak the language. I need someone we can trust, who won’t run and gossip with everyone about this.”

“You’re asking a lot of me. You’re asking me to help you and Alfred break the law. Isn’t that what got him into trouble in the first place?” Mother argued.