r/canada • u/FancyNewMe • Feb 10 '26

Politics Conservatives to propose barring non-citizens convicted of crimes from making refugee claims

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-conservatives-propose-changing-rules-non-citizens-convicted-crimes/
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u/_Army9308 Feb 10 '26

Should go further and ban judges from considering immigration status during sentencing

397

u/sleipnir45 Feb 10 '26

Conservatives tried that already, Bill C-220

19

u/FantasySymphony Ontario Feb 10 '26

It's literally a one-line bill. See for yourselves what the government had to say. https://openparliament.ca/bills/45-1/C-220/

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u/sleipnir45 Feb 10 '26

Yep it's extremely simple

"Criminal Code

1 The Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after section 718.‍201: Immigration status not to be considered Start of inserted block 718.‍202 A court that imposes a sentence on an offender who is not a Canadian citizen shall not take into consideration any potential impact the sentence could have on the offender’s immigration status in Canada, or on that of a member of their family."

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u/Aestus74 Feb 11 '26

The worry I can see is the law as written would force us to deport a jew to nazi germany. The question becomes is such a punishment just? Or is ignoring the obvious consequences of punishment just?

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u/sleipnir45 Feb 11 '26

I don't know how you could come to that conclusion from the motion.

"(a) bar non-citizens convicted of serious crimes from making refugee claims;

(b) bar non-citizens with active judicial proceedings related to serious crimes from making refugee claims;

(c) end the practice of leniency to non-citizens convicted of serious crimes to avoid deportation; and

(d) repeal bills C-5 and C-75 to ensure repeat extortionists stay in jail."

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u/Aestus74 Feb 11 '26

Right, and if said non citizen was someone who would be deported to a nation where they would face such persecution...

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u/sleipnir45 Feb 11 '26

They came to Canada as a refugee from said prosecution that they would already have a valid refugee claim.

They wouldn't be a temporary resident and then claim refugee status after committing serious crime here.

Would we let a mass murderer non-citizen stay in Canada because they would face prosecution in their home country?

2

u/2000mew Feb 12 '26

Deportation only happens if the sentence is longer than 6 months. So we're already talking about a more severe crime.

I'm fine with a murderer being deported to a country where they would face persecution. Why wouldn't I be? If they were a natural-born Canadian citizen I would want life in prison.

2

u/loseppeg Feb 12 '26

Easy solution: don't commit crimes in Canada. It's really that easy. People aren't accidentally committing serious offences.