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Bill C-431

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1st Session, 37th Parliament,
49-50-51 Elizabeth II, 2001-2002

The House of Commons of Canada

BILL C-431

An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (refugee claimants or immigration applicants convicted of an offence on indictment)

2001, c. 27

      Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is amended by adding the following after section 47:

Removal order by court on conviction in certain cases

Conviction for serious criminality

47.1 Where a court convicts a person who is a foreign national or a permanent resident of an offence described in paragraph 36(1)(a) or subsection 36(3), and the accused was advised before entering a plea that, in the case of a conviction, the prosecution would seek an order for removal pursuant to this section, the court that makes the conviction may, in addition to any sentence imposed, on its own motion or on the application of the Crown, order

    (a) that the person leave Canada immediately and the sentence be suspended until the person returns to Canada; or

    (b) that the person serve a term of imprisonment, not be released in Canada and be removed from Canada immediately on having completed the sentence or on becoming entitled, pursuant to any Act, to be released before the end of the full term of the sentence.

Conviction for criminality

47.2 Where a court convicts a person who is a foreign national of an offence described in paragraph 36(2)(a) or subsection 36(3), and the accused was advised before entering a plea that, in the case of a conviction, the prosecution would seek an order for removal pursuant to this section, the court that makes the conviction may, in addition to any sentence imposed, on its own motion or on the application of the Crown, order

    (a) that the person leave Canada immediately and the sentence be suspended until the person returns to Canada; or

    (b) that the person serve a term of imprisonment, not be released in Canada and be removed from Canada immediately on having completed the sentence or on becoming entitled, pursuant to any Act, to be released before the end of the full term of the sentence.

No bail, release or unescorted absence in Canada

47.3 (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other Act, a person who is the subject of an order made under section 47.1 or 47.2 who becomes entitled, under any Act, to release of any form on or before the completion of the full term of the sentence, shall not be released in Canada, but shall be first removed from Canada and then released outside Canada.

No bail, release or unescorted absence

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other Act, a person who is the subject of an order made under section 47.1 or 47.2 shall not be granted

    (a) bail or any other form of interim release; or

    (b) any temporary absence from custody that is not escorted.

Time before new application

47.4 (1) A court making an order under section 47.1 or 47.2 may also order that a specified period must elapse before the person may make a new application to remain or come into Canada as a permanent resident.

If no order made

(2) If no order is made by the court under subsection (1), the person convicted, if not yet admitted to Canada as a permanent resident, may not apply for permanent residence until three years after the date of conviction.

Removal of dependants

47.5 A court making an order under section 47.1 or 47.2 may also order the removal from Canada of any person who entered Canada as a dependant of the person convicted, and was a dependant of the person convicted on the date the offence was committed.

Enforcement

47.6 For the purpose of enforcing an order made under section 47.1, 47.2 or 47.5, a court may, by order, exercise any power respecting the removal or deportation of the person from Canada that may be exercised under this Act by the Minister, an officer or any other official.

Right to be heard

47.7 In considering whether to make an order under section 47.1, 47.2, 47.5 or 47.6, the court shall permit the convicted person or dependant, as the case may be, to make representations to the court as to why the order should not be made or the power exercised.

Exemption from Privacy Act

47.8 Notwithstanding the Privacy Act, the Crown, for the purpose of applying for an order under section 47.1, 47.2, 47.5 or 47.6, is entitled to receive and to present to the court all information respecting the person that is held by any official under the authority of this Act and relevant to the question of whether the order should be made.

Appeal

47.9 (1) An order made by a court under section 47.1, 47.2, 47.5 or 47.6 may be appealed under Part XXI of the Criminal Code.

Other procedures excluded

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any other Act, a person who is the subject of an order made under section 47.1, 47.2, 47.5 or 47.6 may not appeal or apply for a review of the order under any provision of this Act, nor by any procedure other than that described in subsection (1).

Other procedures discontinued

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any other Act, if a person is made the subject of an order made under section 47.1, 47.2, 47.5 or 47.6, any extant application, appeal or other procedure made by the person under any other provision of this Act that is related to the person's right to remain in Canada is discontinued.

Minimum 3 - year delay for citizenship

47.91 A person who is already admitted to Canada or has been determined to be a Convention refugee, who is convicted of an indictable offence before becoming a citizen, and in respect of whom no order has been made pursuant to section 47.1 or 47.2, may not apply to become a citizen until three years later than would otherwise be the case.

2. Subsection 52(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

No return without authorization

52. (1) If a removal order has been enforced, the person to whom it applies shall not return to Canada

    (a) in the case of an order pursuant to section 47.1 or 47.2, before the date ordered by the court; or

    (b) in the case of any other removal order, unless authorized by an officer or in other prescribed circumstances.