B.C. attorney general urges Canadian businesses to consider ties to ICE operations

B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma said Canadian companies should think about their role when doing business with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and said her government is watching related U.S. actions with concern. Her remarks came as public scrutiny grew over a possible sale of a Virginia warehouse owned by Jim Pattison Developments to U.S. Homeland Security.

Niki Sharma, B.C.'s attorney general and deputy premier, said Canadian companies should think about their role when deciding whether to do business with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The comment came during a news conference amid public backlash over a potential sale of a Virginia warehouse owned by Jim Pattison Developments to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Sharma said the provincial government is watching actions by U.S. authorities with concern. Media reports have also noted other Canadian firms with links to ICE contracts or sales. Key facts: - Niki Sharma urged businesses to consider their role in dealings with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and said the provincial government is concerned about recent U.S. actions. - Homeland Security sent a letter to the Hanover County planning department indicating intent to purchase and rehabilitate a warehouse owned by Jim Pattison Developments in Virginia. - Canadian media reports mention other firms connected to ICE work, including a social-media pilot project reported for Hootsuite and an armoured-vehicle order associated with Roshel. Summary: Sharma's comments have framed the issue as one for corporate reflection and public attention. The immediate status is that the potential sale and related business ties are the subject of media scrutiny. Undetermined at this time.