97.3 Immigration Policy
Whereas, Bill C-44, which received Royal Assent on June 15, 1995, amended the Immigration Act to remove the authority of the Immigration Appeal Division to stay or to overturn deportation of serious criminals; and
Whereas, The amended Immigration Act (Page 2.2.1) allows the Minister of Immigration to approve requests for rehabilitation from persons initially barred from Canada, “if he/she is satisfied that they have rehabilitated themselves and at least five years have elapsed since the expiration of any sentence imposed for the offense”; and
Whereas, A 1995 press report stated that 5,483 special permits were granted by the Minister of Immigration to persons initially barred from Canada; and
Whereas, There are applicants other than criminals wishing to enter Canada from whom more responsible future Canadian citizens can be chosen; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada:
- To limit the number of special permits (1997 Annotated Immigration Act, paragraph 27, Section 1) which can be issued to persons who are initially barred from Canada and now declare themselves rehabilitated; and to further amend the Immigration Act:
i. To prohibit any immigrant to Canada from receiving immigrant status if that person, while in Canada, has been convicted of a criminal offense resulting in a prison sentence; and
ii. To deny landed immigrant status or Canadian citizenship to any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense outside of Canada, which, if such an act had been committed inside Canada, would have received a prison sentence.