Government Announces Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney introduced new legislation last week that will expedite the removal of certain foreign criminals from Canada, thus ensuring the continued safety and security of Canadians.

The Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act, which is not yet in effect, will concentrate on three main areas:

Making it easier for the government to remove dangerous foreign criminals from the country;
Making it more difficult for those who are determined to pose a risk to Canada to enter the country; and
Removing some barriers for genuine visitors who want to come to Canada

The proposed legislation will streamline the deportation process for some convicted criminals by limiting their access to the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board. In the past, some convicted criminals could delay the deportation process for extended periods of time. The new rules are projected to reduce the overall process of expulsion from Canada by up to 14 months, thus maximizing safety for Canadians.

Individuals who are criminally inadmissible to Canada on serious grounds such as security, human or international rights violations, or organized criminality, will face increased difficulty in entering Canada and prolonging their stay through abuse of Canada’s humanitarian programs.

On the other hand, the legislation will facilitate the temporary entry of individuals designated as low-risk who have nonetheless been refused entry because a family member was deemed inadmissible for a non-security reason, such as health.