Permanent residents convicted of a crime and jailed for six months or more in Canada would have their immigrant status revoked with no right to appeal under a proposed legislation announced Wednesday.
The restriction of the appeal eligibility from the current two years for all foreigners, including permanent residents, is part of the Conservative party’s election platform to expedite the removal of foreign criminals from Canada and enhance public safety, said Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.
The announcement, an “add-on” to the minister’s agenda Wednesday, came two days after protests in 14 cities across Canada against Ottawa’s planned cuts to refugees’ health-care coverage that take effect on June 30.
“The Harper government is putting a stop to foreign criminals relying on endless appeals in order to delay their removal from Canada during which time they continue to terrorize innocent Canadians,” said Kenney.
“Canadians are generous and welcoming people, but they have no tolerance for criminals and fraudsters abusing our generosity.”
The Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act would prevent foreigners inadmissible on the grounds of security, human or international rights violations or organized crimes from applying to stay here on humanitarian grounds. It would also ban their family members from entering Canada.
While Dr. Meb Rashid, a Toronto organizer of the health cut protests, welcomed the expedition of the removal of criminals from Canada, he questioned the announcement’s timing by criminalizing foreign nationals, including refugees.
“The minister can treat criminals like criminals, but there is no reason to treat all refugees like criminals,” Rashid said.
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