25 November, 2014

Putting the Safety and Security of Canadians First

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.
• 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

www.canada.ca