https://www.bellissimolawgroup.com/2017/11/detention-reviews-habeas-corpus-and-the-charter-navigating-a-new-evolving-legal-landscape.html/).

In recognition of the contributions of the Charter, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held a special citizenship ceremony, where 37 new Canadian’s were invited to take their citizenship oath. There, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship stated the following:

37 years ago, nobody could have imagined how the Charter would shape Canada nearly four decades later. I believe the Charter is the most important law as it has shaped our identity as a nation and represents the values of its people. Canada is recognized around the world for its freedom and democracy and Canadians are renowned for celebrating diversity and making everyone feel welcomed and included. To today’s 37 new Canadians: Welcome into our Canadian family, welcome home.[4]

We look forward to continued progress in Canadian immigration law and policy as it aligns with the principles and values of Canadian society as set out by the Charter.

Sources

The post 37 Years Later: The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

The decision to shut these streams down was made due to the low retention rate of entrepreneurs.  A major area of concern involved providing permanent residency to approved applicants before they ever entered P.E.I. As a result, many of these entrepreneurs settled in other areas of Canada, contrary to the intention they expressed to operate a business in P.E.I., which formed the basis of the decision to grant them permanent residence. Although unethical, this is not illegal, as Section 6 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows for freedom of movement. The P.E.I. government had anticipated this and imposed a $200,000 deposit, refundable upon the fulfillment of the entrepreneurs’ stated intention to operate a business in P.E.I. However, they overestimated the value of this money; last year, 177 applicants did not receive their deposits back, raising a total of $18 million for the province.

The sudden closure of the streams without any warning may seem unfair, however, this is the most practical route from an administrative standpoint. As stated in the Speaking notes for The Honourable Jason Kenney, PC, MP Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, released at a news conference held on 4 November 2011:

“As we redesign the program to make it sustainable, here’s the challenge we have: if we leave the program open for applications during that period of consultation and redesign, we know what will happen – we will get absolutely flooded with a huge increase in applications. Because people will say “if the criteria might change, we need to get our application in right away.”

Although these notes refer to a different program, the principle still stands; prior notice results in an influx of applications under criteria which are meant to be changed, defeating the purpose of the closure. Even with the removal of the two streams, all is not lost for entrepreneurs wishing to operate a business in P.E.I. There is a stream of business immigration which is still operational, under which entrepreneurs receive a work permit, if approved, to set up their business in P.E.I. Only once they meet the terms of a Performance Agreement will a provincial nomination be granted a route to permanent residency opened. One of those terms is the continuous operation of the business for one year, which may prove more effective in retaining entrepreneurs in the region than a sum of money.

The post P.E.I Shuts Down Two Streams of its Business Immigration Program first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

What exactly are “anti-Canadian values?” Now if someone asked me the positive of that question – “what are Canadian values?” – the answer would be very easy, just look at the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The fundamental values of Canadian society are perfectly reflected in the Charter, part of the supreme law of Canada. Section 27 of the Charter provides guidance as to how it should be interpreted: “in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians.”

The multicultural nature of Canadian society is a fairly non-contentious issue. The goal of preserving and enhancing multiculturalism is even explicitly enunciated in the Charter. In addition, Canada was the first country in the world to ever adopt multiculturalism as an official policy in 1971.

So, if this is all true, then why would we ever want to “screen” out immigrants on the basis that their values are different from ours? One would have thought that differing thoughts, beliefs, and opinions could only serve to preserve and enhance multicultural Canada. The greatest irony in asking whether we should screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values is that this whole exercise is in and of itself anti-Canadian.

For more information on Immigration into Canada, please click here or here.

(Sources)

The post Screening for “Anti-Canadian Values” is Anti-Canadian first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.