November
21, 2014 — Ottawa
Today, Canada’s
Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced the coming into
force of certain changes under the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act that
will further protect the safety and security of Canadians and the integrity of
Canada’s immigration system.
The Faster Removal of
Foreign Criminals Act is expediting the removal of foreign criminals from
Canada, while making it harder for those who pose a risk to Canadians to enter
the country.
The new changes will deter and prevent abuse of the immigration
system and safeguard Canadians by:
Increasing the penalty for
misrepresentation from a two- to a five-year period of inadmissibility, as well
as a five-year ban on applying for permanent resident status. This change will
help deter fraudulent applications and sends a strong message to those who
would abuse our system that giving false or misleading information has serious
consequences.
Barring temporary entry to
immediate family members of those who are inadmissible to Canada on the most
serious grounds, including national security, human or international rights
violations or organized criminality. This new measure will ensure that
individuals who pose a serious danger are unable to use their relatives to
expand their networks in Canada.
Quick facts
Because
of the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act:
Convicted criminals sentenced
to more than six months imprisonment in Canada are now being removed more
quickly as they no longer have the right to file an appeal to the Immigration
and Refugee Board’s Immigration Appeal Division.
As well, those who have a
foreign conviction or committed an action outside Canada that carries a maximum
sentence of at least 10 years in Canada are also barred from filing an appeal.
Foreign nationals who are
inadmissible on the most serious grounds, including national security, human or
international rights violations or organized criminality, no longer have access
to a program that is meant for cases deserving of humanitarian and
compassionate consideration.
Quote
“Canada continues to facilitate
legitimate trade and travel however we will not tolerate abuse of our
immigration system or put our country at risk. The new measures introduced by
our government under the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act increase
our ability to protect the safety and security of Canadians.”
Chris
Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister
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