SERGIO R. KARAS QUOTED BY CBC

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lenvanheest-deportation-noncitizen-criminal-1.3375372

SERGIO R. KARAS QUOTED IN NATIONAL POST STORY ON IMMIGRATION AND MENTAL ILLNESS

I was quoted in today/s National Post on a very unusual case involving deportation  and mental illness.

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/bipolar-man-on-verge-of-deportation-to-a-country-he-left-as-a-baby-57-years-ag

December 20, 2015

Bipolar man on verge of deportation to a country he left as a baby - 57 years ago

By Tom Blackwell 

Len Van Heest is now planning a last-ditch application to the new Immigration minister, John McCallum, for a permanent stay of deportation, said his...

A 57-year-old man who immigrated to Canada as a baby is on the verge of being deported from the only country he's known because of a string of crimes triggered by severe mental illness.

Len Van Heest - diagnosed with bipolar disorder in British Columbia at age 16 - is just the latest, dramatic example of a growing trend, say some immigration lawyers.

Increasing numbers of adult immigrants who came here as small children and developed psychiatric or neurological conditions now face removal after the previous government toughened the law on non-citizen criminals, they say.

The Canada Border Services Agency detained Len Van Heest last Wednesday and plans to send him to the Netherlands, though he doesn't speak Dutch and has not lived there since he was in diapers.

We're just dumping someone in another country

The Vancouver Island man neglected to become a Canadian citizen, so falls under legislation that lets the government expel immigrants who commit serious crimes.

A Federal Court judge has just upheld the denial of Van Heest's application to remain on humanitarian and compassionate grounds - and rejected his claim that deportation to the Netherlands would be cruel and unusual punishment.

"I don't think it's fair at all," said Peter Golden, his Victoria-based lawyer. "I don't think we can treat someone who has these vulnerabilities just like we treat everybody else ...We're just dumping someone in another country."

Golden said he is worried that his client will end up on the streets in Holland, without his required drug treatment. "In all probability, it's a death sentence for him."

Van Heest is now planning a last-ditch application to the new Immigration minister, John McCallum, for a permanent stay of deportation, said his lawyer.

But a spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency said the decision to remove someone from Canada "is not taken lightly," and that various avenues of appeal are open to those facing deportation.

Van Heest was twice given a reprieve from removal, only to relapse into criminal activity, noted another immigration lawyer.

"I think in this particular case, as the court notes, there were just too many strikes against this fellow," said Sergio Karas, vice-chair of the Ontario Bar Association's immigration section. What's more, "in the Netherlands, you're going to get perhaps even better (mental-health) support than here."

There were just too many strikes against this fellow

Still, the United Nations' human-rights committee criticized Canada earlier this year for another, similar decision: the 2011 deportation of a 52-year-old Jamaican man who had immigrated as a teenager and committed crimes related to his schizophrenia.

Since the Conservatives tightened the law in 2013, lawyers are seeing more such removal cases, "where people came to Canada as children and developed either mental illness or brain injury due to an accident," Golden said.

The deportation rule now kicks in with a sentence of six months or more - down from two years - and there is no longer a right to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division.

"Across the board, immigration lawyers would say they have been seeing more of these cases," echoed Jennifer Stone, a lawyer at Neighbourhood Legal Services in Toronto. "This fact scenario is one that I see somewhat commonly, and it's a real problem."

But Karas said the six-month rule makes sense, since under the old law many judges were imposing sentences of just below two years solely to avoid deportation.

According to the Federal Court ruling earlier this month, Van Heest arrived in Canada at eight months old and was a teenager when diagnosed with bipolar - where altered brain function triggers occasionally severe and disabling mood swings.

The disease causes manic episodes where he becomes agitated and hostile, harming himself and others, said Justice George Locke. He has a lengthy criminal record - usually racked up when he goes off his treatment - with about 32 police reports filed just in 2012.

Van Heest was first ordered removed from Canada in 2008, but twice won stays on deportation, and each time breached the conditions by getting in more trouble with the law, said the decision. Most recently, he was charged with uttering a threat and possession of a dangerous weapon - which Golden said was a kitchen knife.

He applied for reinstatement of his permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, but an immigration officer rejected the request.

Golden says his client is tall, burly and bearded - making him look somewhat threatening - but he has never done serious harm to anyone.

Justice Locke - who could only review whether the immigration officer's decision was reasonable, not retry the case - cited evidence from a Dutch psychiatrist that as a citizen of Holland, Van Heest would receive treatment there, and that most Dutch people speak at least some English.

National Post

ABILITY FOR ECONOMIC ESTABLISHMENT DISCUSSED IN NOMINEE CASE

Thai is a rare case discussing the applicant's ability to establish himself economically in Canada after receiving  a Saskatchewan Nominee Immigration Program certificate.

Yasmin v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)

Between
Tahira Yasmin, Munayar Hussain Rana, Applicants, and
The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Respondent

[2015] F.C.J. No. 1416

2015 FC 1346

Docket: IMM-8464-14

 Federal Court
Toronto, Ontario

Annis J.

Heard: November 24, 2015.
Judgment: December 4, 2015.

(29 paras.)

---

JUDGMENT AND REASONS

1     ANNIS J.:-- This is an application for judicial review pursuant to section 72(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c 27 [IRPA or the Act] of a decision made by an immigration officer of the High Commission of Canada [the Officer] refusing the Applicants' permanent residence as members of the Provincial Nominee Class. The Applicants are seeking to have the decision set aside and referred back to a different officer for redetermination.

2     For the reasons that follow, the application is dismissed.

I. Background

3     The Principal Applicant, Tahira Yasmin, a citizen of Pakistan, was named in a certificate issued by the province of Saskatchewan for a permanent resident visa application as a member of the Provincial Nominee Class as someone who may become a permanent resident on the basis of their ability to become economically established in Canada pursuant to section 87 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, SOR/2002-227 [the IRPR or Regulations].

4     The Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program [SINP] concluded that the Principal Applicant demonstrated an ability to economically establish herself in Saskatchewan based upon the Province's low unemployment rate and availability of more than 14,000 jobs, many of which were related to the Applicant's education and experience.

5     It also relied upon the fact that the Principal Applicant had an offer of permanent full-time employment from an employer who verified that she had the skills required to perform the job, being that of a cashier working in a gas station.

6     After exchanges with the SINP and a fairness letter being sent to the Applicants, the Officer acting pursuant to section 87(3) substituted his criteria for those of the SINP. It concluded that in order for the Applicants to become economically established, it is expected that they will be able to obtain employment in Canada and already have the abilities, education and work experience which will enable them to procure employment.

7     Based on the foregoing criteria, the Officer concluded that the Applicant did not have the English language skills to be able to perform the duties required for the position of a cashier.

8     This refusal is the decision currently under judicial review.

II. Impugned Decision

9     The Officer noted the Applicants' sufficient settlement funds, but concluded that this in itself was an insufficient indicator of the Applicants' ability to become economically established.

10     The Officer considered the prospective employer's letter indicating, amongst other considerations, that the Principal Applicant's language abilities were similar to those of other employees of his who successfully carried out their duties. The Officer nonetheless concluded that it was reasonable to expect a cashier to require at least moderate English language abilities to work in Saskatoon. Based upon the Applicant's most recent International English Language Testing System [IELTS] results placing her English language abilities below basic for listening, and at the basic level for reading, writing and speaking, she did not have the required level of English proficiency.

11     The Officer indicated to the Principal Applicant that with the level of English language ability she had demonstrated, he was not satisfied that she would be able to perform the tasks of a cashier.

III. Statutory Provisions

12     The relevant subsections of section 87 of the IRPR, SOR/2002-227 in force at the time are as follows:

·       87. (1) For the purposes of subsection 12(2) of the Act, the provincial nominee class is hereby prescribed as a class of persons who may become permanent residents on the basis of their ability to become economically established in Canada. 

·       (2) 

A foreign national is a member of the provincial nominee class if 

·       (a) 

subject to subsection (5), they are named in a nomination certificate issued by the government of a province under a provincial nomination agreement between that province and the Minister; and 

·       (b) 

they intend to reside in the province that has nominated them. 

·       (3) 

If the fact that the foreign national is named in a certificate referred to in paragraph (2)(a) is not a sufficient indicator of whether they may become economically established in Canada and an officer has consulted the government that issued the certificate, the officer may substitute for the criteria set out in subsection (2) their evaluation of the likelihood of the ability of the foreign national to become economically established in Canada. 

·       (4) 

An evaluation made under subsection (3) requires the concurrence of a second officer. 

* * *

·       87. (1) Pour l'application du paragraphe 12(2) de la Loi, la catégorie des candidats des provinces est une catégorie réglementaire de personnes qui peuvent devenir résidents permanents du fait de leur capacité à réussir leur établissement économique au Canada. 

·       (2) 

Fait partie de la catégorie des candidats des provinces l'étranger qui satisfait aux critères suivants : 

·       a) sous réserve du paragraphe (5), il est visé par un certificat de désignation délivré par le gouvernement provincial concerné conformément à l'accord concernant les candidats des provinces que la province en cause a conclu avec le ministre; 

·       b) il cherche à s'établir dans la province qui a délivré le certificat de désignation. 

·       (3) 

Si le fait que l'étranger est visé par le certificat de désignation mentionné à l'alinéa (2)a) n'est pas un indicateur suffisant de l'aptitude à réussir son établissement économique au Canada, l'agent peut, après consultation auprès du gouvernement qui a délivré le certificat, substituer son appréciation aux critères prévus au paragraphe (2). 

·       (4) 

Toute décision de l'agent au titre du paragraphe (3) doit être confirmée par un autre agent. 

IV. Issue

13     This application raises the issue as to whether the Officer's assessment of the Principal Applicant's permanent resident under the Provincial Nominee Program was reasonable.

V. Standard of Review

14     The applicable standard of review in this application is one of reasonableness (Dunsmuir v New Brunswick, 2008 SCC 9).

VI. Analysis

15     There was some discussion during the hearing concerning the appropriate interpretation of the requirements of demonstrating an ability to become economically established in Canada. The Applicant referred to the decision of Rezaeiazar v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2013 FC 761 [Rezaeiazar] where at paragraph 77 Justice Russell considered the meaning of becoming economically established in Canada pursuant to paragraph 85 (3) (b) as follows:

·       [77] This brings up the issue of the relationship between the point system and economic self-sufficiency. The Applicant says that, in order to meet the requirements necessary to come to Canada pursuant to the skilled worker class, she must meet the points requirements set out in paragraph 85(3)(b) of the Regulations and demonstrate that she can become economically established in Canada. That is, that she can become economically self-sufficient within a reasonable amount of time upon her arrival in Canada. Given that the Applicant has already surpassed the points requirement by three points in this case, she says that the only issue is whether or not there is an additional requirement that she be able to establish herself economically in the occupation in which she qualified. 

·       [Emphasis added] 

16     Based on the criterion in Rezaeiazar of the Applicant becoming "economically self-sufficient within a reasonable amount of time upon her arrival in Canada" and the employer's letter indicating other employees with similar language deficits were successfully employed, I think it fair to conclude that the Applicant would have the ability to become economically established within a reasonable time after arrival in Canada.

17     The Officer did not apply a test based on reasonably acquiring the abilities in a reasonable time period after arriving in Canada. Instead, the Officer required that the Applicants demonstrate that "they will be able to obtain employment in Canada and already have the abilities, education and work experience which will enable them to procure employment." [Emphasis added]

18     I am satisfied that the Officer applied an appropriate definition of the "the ability to become economically established" for the purpose of section 87 (3) of the Regulations. I find that the circumstances before Justice Russell are distinguishable from those in this matter. In Rezaeiazar, the applicant had "already surpassed the points requirement" and therefore, her abilities, education and work experience were not in issue.

19     It is understandable that the Regulations would require that persons arriving in Canada to occupy positions already possess the necessary abilities, education and work experience to discharge their duties. Otherwise the granting of permanent residency would be based upon a contingent outcome in the future. Once accepted as a permanent resident under the program, the foreign national maintains that status, even if it proves that she is unable to perform in the position, or leaves the Province to live somewhere else in Canada.

20     It is therefore a reasonable policy that an employer's representation of the future successful outcome of someone in the position offered should not outweigh an objective reasonable conclusion that an Applicant who cannot perform the tasks of the position offered is not able to participate sufficiently in the Canadian labour market to economically support herself.

21     Accordingly, I accept the Officer's implicit interpretation of the requirement of becoming economically established in Canada that applicants must demonstrate upon arrival in Canada that they already have the abilities, education and work experience which will enable them to procure employment.

22     On this basis, I also reject the Applicant's argument that in engaging considerations beyond those relied upon by the SINP, the Officer was basing his decision on irrelevant considerations. The Officer acknowledged that deference was owed to the factors underpinning the Province's nomination of persons for the Provincial Nominee Class. Nevertheless, by section 87(3) of the IRPR, it remains the mandate of the Minister to determine whether the Principal Applicant can support herself economically. Accordingly, it is reasonable that the Principal Applicant must be able to demonstrate that she is capable of performing the job offered which includes the communication and related language skills to perform in the position.

23     With respect to the substance of the Officer's decision, I furthermore find it reasonable to conclude that for a position that has tasks of complexity that range from basic to moderate, the Principal Applicant should have at least, moderate English language proficiency. The Principal Applicant possessed only "Extremely limited user" for listening skills, and only basic abilities in reading, writing and speaking in English. These abilities improved slightly on the second test.

24     Additionally, while the employer's statement that he may be prepared to keep persons in a position even though the person does not possess the skills to perform the position because of a shortage of available workers to otherwise perform the tasks, the employer nevertheless did not explain how someone could be a cashier who cannot understand customers, or provide services or maintain or prepare reports with only basic reading, writing and speaking skills.

25     I similarly agree with the Officer's conclusion that the employer's response that the language ability required for the position is "not high" does not explain how the Principal Applicant would be able to perform her duties with only basic and below basic English language abilities except by the employee learning on the job.

26     An employer's representation of the future successful outcome of someone in the position offered does not outweigh an objective reasonable conclusion that an applicant who cannot perform the tasks of the position offered is not able to participate sufficiently in the Canadian labour market to economically support herself.

27     I also conclude that the decision of Sran v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2012 FC 791 cited by the Applicants where it was found that the officer was applying the criteria from the skilled worker class is distinguishable inasmuch as there is no suggestion here that a language skill is not relevant to being able to perform the job, whether or not it is also a factor for a skilled worker NOC evaluation.

28     Given the deference owed to the decision-maker, including applying his own statute if this could be considered an interpretation issue, I find the evidence sufficient to support the Officer's conclusion that the Applicant does not have the English language skills to be a cashier. As such, the decision falls within a range of possible, acceptable outcomes which are defensible in respect of the facts and law.

VII. Conclusion

29     The application is dismissed and no question will be certified for appeal.

JUDGMENT

THIS COURT'S JUDGMENT is that the application is dismissed and no question is certified for appeal.

ANNIS J.

SERGIO R. KARAS CHAIRED SESSION AT IBA 7th GLOBAL BUSINESS IMMIGRATION LAW CONFERENCE IN LONDON

I was honored to Chair a session at the IBA 7th Global Business Immigration Law Conference  in London, UK, November 18--20 on the topic "Can I bring my family?" where we discussed several aspects of global mobility for international transfers and executive. Here are some members of the panel at the cocktail party that followed the session.

SERGIO R. KARAS NAMED AS ONE OF MOST HIGHLY REGARDED CORPORATE IMMIGRATION LAWYERS

I am honored to have been named to the list of Most Highly regarded Individuals in Corporate Immigration in Canada by "Who's Who Legal" 2015 edition:

"Who's Who Legal" : Corporate Immigration 2015

Canada: Corporate Immigration Analysis 2015

• NOVEMBER 2015

• 
  

Most Highly Regarded Individuals
........
Sergio R Karas	Karas Immigration Law Professional Corporation, Toronto
.....

Sergio Karas, from Karas Immigration Law in Toronto, “successfully” assists both individuals and multinational corporations to implement their relocation strategies. He is known for his “wealth of experience” in dealing with complex cases, and regularly contributes to the press by informing them of current and changing immigration policies.

SERGIO R. KARAS NAMED TO "BEST LAWYERS" LIST

I am honored to have been listed to the 2016 Best Lawyers list together with outstanding professionals from the United States and Canada. This list is peer reviewed and only those who meet its stringent standards are selected. Thank you!

CONSULTANT SENTENCED TO LONG JAIL TERM AND LARGE FINE IN HUGE SCAM CASE

This is the largest fine in Canadian immigration history.  There is no word from CBSA on whether the  clients will also be prosecuted.



Richmond immigration scam 'mastermind' gets seven-year sentence and $900,000 fine

Richmond immigration scam 'mastermind' gets seven-year sentence and $900,000 fine

1,200 clients to be investigated

BY LARISSA CAHUTE, THE PROVINCE OCTOBER 24, 2015

Some of the Chinese passports and stamps seized by Canada Border Services Agency as part of an investigation into a immigration fraud scheme in Metro Vancouver. CBSA investigators says many" people gained Canadian citizenship through fraudulent means and fake passport stamps from an unlicensed immigration consulting business whose owner, Xun Sunny Wang, has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

A Richmond man who made millions from illegal immigration consultancies in Metro Vancouver has been sentenced to seven years in prison and fined more than $900,000 for a number of fraud-related charges, including making fake Chinese passports, and evading taxes.

Xun “Sunny” Wang, a 46-year-old father of two teenage boys, pleaded guilty in July to eight charges in connection with his businesses New Can Consultants (Canada) Ltd. and Wellong International Investments Ltd — which, according to an agreed statement of facts, charged 1,200 clients $10 million for its fraudulent services from 2006 to 2013.

“I find the gravity of the offences committed by Mr. Wang to be serious,” Judge Reg Harris told a Vancouver provincial courtroom Friday morning. “(His) culpability is extremely high and commensurate with a seven-year sentence.”

Harris also gave Wang, who sat quietly before the judge, one year to pay a working income tax fine of nearly $188,000, as well as about $730,000 for personal tax evasion.

Wang’s charges included six counts under the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, like defrauding the government and altering passports, as well as two counts under the Income Tax Act for failing to report $2,722,305 of taxable income and evading payment of $730,837 of federal income tax.

According to Harris, Wang’s offences were “complex, sophisticated and well thought-out.”

He referenced Wang’s “misleading paper trail,” which not only included the fake and altered passports, but also his use of fraudulent addresses and phone numbers to make immigration officials believe his clients lived in Canada when they were really living in China. Harris also said Wang made it appear as though his clients were working here for one of his companies and also coached them on how to “mislead citizenship officers.”

“His actions not only harmed the public’s confidence in the immigration process, but he also assisted numerous persons in fraudulently obtaining residency or citizinsehip,” said Harris.

While seven other people have also been charged in relation to the case, Harris said “it is clear that (Wang) was the mastermind behind the scheme.”

Harris also noted Wang “continued offending despite search warrants being executed at his home and offices.” He also violated his bail terms.

“The only available explanation for Mr. Wang’s actions is greed,” said Harris.

The lengthy sentence — which includes credit for time served — will “remind those who are inclined to commit similar offences that the response by the courts will be strong,” said Harris.

Harris also expects immigration authorities will have to review the documentation of Wang’s 1,200 clients “and it’s quite likely some of those will have to be removed from Canada.”

Canada Border Services Agency — which conducted a two-year probe into Wang — did not comment on the specifics of Wang’s case.

“Immigration fraud is a criminal offence in Canada and damages the integrity of our immigration system,” the CBSA said in a brief statement.

“The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) works closely with its domestic and international partners to identify, investigate and prosecute, to the fullest extent, those who violate our immigration laws.”

According to defence counsel Ritchie Clark, Wang will “consider” an appeal.

SERGIO R. KARAS MODERATES IMMIGRATION PANEL AT IBA CONFERENCE IN VIENNA

I moderated the panel "On the move: a global immigration update"  at the recent IBA Annual Conference in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday, October, 2015, with the participation of many of the most prominent business immigration lawyers worldwide. 

DUAL INTENT MUST BE CONSIDERED AT PORT OF ENTY

Dual intent is always a very difficult matter to assess at the Port of entry, but this case should provide some guidance.

Jewell v. Canada (Minister of Public
Safety and Emergency Preparedness)

Between
Mark Robert Jewell, Applicant, and
The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness, Respondent

[2015] F.C.J. No. 1045

2015 FC 1046

Docket: IMM-6984-14

 Federal Court
Vancouver, British Columbia

O'Reilly J.

Heard: May 21, 2015.
Judgment: September 3, 2015.

(16 paras.)

---

JUDGMENT AND REASONS

·       O'REILLY J.:-- 

I. Overview

1     In 2014, a delegate of the Minister found that Mr Mark Robert Jewell, a citizen of the United States, had made Canada his home without first obtaining Canadian permanent resident status contrary to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c 27 [IRPA], s 20(1)(a) -- see Annex for enactments cited. The Delegate then issued an exclusion order against Mr Jewell under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, SOR/2002-227 [IRPR], s 228(1)(c)(iii).

2     Mr Jewell maintains that the decision was unreasonable because it was based on a misunderstanding of the relevant statutory provisions and a failure to consider the dual intention provisions of the IRPA. He also submits that the delegate treated him unfairly by not giving him a chance to respond to issues of credibility, or to withdraw or adjourn his application. Mr Jewell asks me to overturn the delegate's decision and order another official to reconsider his circumstances.

3     I agree with Mr Jewell that the decision was unreasonable because it failed to consider his dual intention to be a temporary resident of Canada at the time of the assessment, with a view to becoming a permanent resident at a later date. It is therefore unnecessary to consider Mr Jewell's submissions on the issue of fairness.

4     The sole issue is whether the delegate's decision was unreasonable.

II. The Delegate's Decision

5     Mr Jewell works in the state of Washington and owns property there. Since 2013, he has been dating a Canadian citizen living in Surrey, British Columbia. The couple has spent time together both in Washington and BC, making many trips back and forth.

6     In 2014, Mr Jewell's girlfriend rented a house in Surrey. He helped out with the rent and paid for some furnishings. In September 2014, a friend of Mr Jewell attempted to drive Mr Jewell's car across the border from the US into Canada. A border security officer stopped the car and reviewed the text messages on the driver's cell phone. Those messages caused the officer to believe that Mr Jewell had moved in with his girlfriend in Surrey.

7     The next day, Mr Jewell was stopped at the border and his cell phone records were reviewed. Based on this evidence, an officer prepared a report indicating that Mr Jewell was inadmissible to Canada. The file was then referred to a delegate of the Minister for a decision.

8     The stored messages appeared to confirm that Mr Jewell was living in Canada and suggested how Mr Jewell should answer questions at the border. The delegate asked Mr Jewell about his employment and residence in Canada. The delegate also noted that Mr Jewell's travel patterns were consistent with someone who was commuting from Canada to the US.

9     The delegate concluded that Mr Jewell had made Canada his home without first obtaining permanent resident status. The delegate relied on the messages retrieved from Mr Jewell's friend's phone, and Mr Jewell's phone. In addition, the delegate noted that Mr Jewell had little evidence to show that he worked in Washington, although the delegate accepted that Mr Jewell had been commuting from Canada to the US. The delegate reviewed evidence regarding Mr Jewell's residence in Washington and found that he owned a recreational property that had been up for sale.

10     Based on this evidence, the delegate issued an exclusion order pursuant to the IRPR.

III. Was the delegate's decision unreasonable?

11     The Minister submits that the exclusion order was reasonable because Mr Jewell admitted his intention to reside in Canada permanently. Further, Mr Jewell was behaving as a permanent resident of Canada by commuting from BC to Washington.

12     I disagree with the Minister's position. In my view, the delegate failed to assess Mr Jewell's dual intention to be a temporary resident at present, and to become a permanent resident later.

13     IRPA provides that foreign nationals may hold the intention to become permanent residents without being precluded from becoming temporary residents if they show they will leave Canada at the end of their authorized period of residence (s 22(2)). If they cannot do so, an exclusion order will be considered reasonable (Barua v Canada (Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2015 FC 172 at para 22; Sibomana v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2012 FC 853 at paras 27-28).

14     The evidence before the delegate did not show that Mr Jewell intended to become a permanent resident of Canada without abiding by the applicable rules. At best, the evidence was ambiguous. Further, there is no evidence that Mr Jewell would refuse to leave Canada, or that he would fail to observe any other legal requirements.

15     Therefore, in my view, the delegate's decision did not represent a defensible outcome based on the facts and the law. It was unreasonable.

IV. Conclusion and Disposition

16     The delegate's decision was unreasonable for failing to consider Mr Jewell's desire to be a temporary resident of Canada for now while hoping to become a permanent resident later. Accordingly, I must allow this application for judicial review and order another delegate to reconsider Mr Jewell's circumstances. Neither party proposed a question of general importance for me to certify, and none is stated.

JUDGMENT

·       THIS COURT'S JUDGMENT is that:

·       1. 

The application for judicial review is allowed and the matter is returned to another delegate for reconsideration. 

·       2. 

No question of general importance is stated. 

O'REILLY J.

·       * * * * * 

Annex

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c 27

·       Obligation on entry 

·       20. (1) Every foreign national, other than a foreign national referred to in section 19, who seeks to enter or remain in Canada must establish, 

·       (a) to become a permanent resident, that they hold the visa or other document required under the regulations and have come to Canada in order to establish permanent residence; 

·       Dual intent 

·       22. (2) An intention by a foreign national to become a permanent resident does not preclude them from becoming a temporary resident if the officer is satisfied that they will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay. 

Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, SOR/2002-227

·       Subsection 44(2) of the Act -- foreign nationals 

·       228. (1) For the purposes of subsection 44(2) of the Act, and subject to subsections (3) and (4), if a report in respect of a foreign national does not include any grounds of inadmissibility other than those set out in the following circumstances, the report shall not be referred to the Immigration Division and any removal order made shall be 

·       ... 

·       (c) if the foreign national is inadmissible under section 41 of the Act on grounds of 

·       ... 

·       (iii) 

failing to establish that they hold the visa or other document as required under section 20 of the Act, an exclusion order, 

* * *

Loi sur l'immigration et la protection des réfugiés, LC 2001, ch 27

·       Obligation à l'entrée au Canada 

·       20. (1) L'étranger non visé à l'article 19 qui cherche à entrer au Canada ou à y séjourner est tenu de prouver: 

·       a) pour devenir un résident permanent, qu'il détient les visa ou autres documents réglementaires et vient s'y établir en permanence; 

·       Double intention 

·       22. (2) L'intention qu'il a de s'établir au Canada n'empêche pas l'étranger de devenir résident temporaire sur preuve qu'il aura quitté le Canada à la fin de la période de séjour autorisée. 

Règlement sur l'immigration et la protection des réfugiés, DORS/2002-227

Application du paragraphe 44(2) de la Loi: étrangers

·       228. (1) Pour l'application du paragraphe 44(2) de la Loi, mais sous réserve des paragraphes (3) et (4), dans le cas où elle ne comporte pas de motif d'interdiction de territoire autre que ceux prévus dans l'une des circonstances ci-après, l'affaire n'est pas déférée à la Section de l'immigration et la mesure de renvoi à prendre est celle indiquée en regard du motif en cause: 

·       [...] 

·       c) en cas d'interdiction de territoire de l'étranger au titre de l'article 41 de la Loi pour manquement à: 

·       [...] 

·       iii) 

l'obligation prévue à l'article 20 de la Loi de prouver qu'il détient les visa et autres documents réglementaires, l'exclusion, 

FOREIGN CRIMINAL CONVICTION IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The impact of foreign criminal convictions in the spotlight in this unusual case:

Moscicki v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)

Between
Robert Moscicki, Applicant, and
The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
and the Minister of Public
Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Respondents

[2015] F.C.J. No. 1041

2015 FC 740

Dockets: IMM-4845-14, IMM-4614-14

 Federal Court
Toronto, Ontario

McVeigh J.

Heard: December 3, 2014.
Judgment: June 12, 2015.

(66 paras.)

---

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

1     McVEIGH J.:-- The Applicant brought an application for judicial review of the decision of the Immigration Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board ("the Board") dated May 8, 2014, where the Board found the Applicant inadmissible under subsection 36(1)(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c 27 ("IRPA") for serious criminality (IMM-4845-14). That judicial review application was combined with IMM-4614-14, where the Applicant sought declaratory relief against Citizenship and Immigration Canada ("CIC") for a failure to conclude the Applicant's alleged 1989 application for permanent resident ("PR") status as an un-accompanied minor child of his father. The facts are generally common for both files.

2     Both decisions were dismissed on December 11, 2014, without costs.

I. Background

3     The Applicant is a citizen of Poland. He was 17 years old when he arrived in Canada on October 18, 1989. The Applicant was sponsored as a dependent son by his father who arrived approximately one year earlier. The Applicant says his father became a landed immigrant on March 24, 1989. The Applicant's two younger siblings have always remained in Europe.

4     In March 1992, the Applicant was charged and on September 28, 1992, convicted of "attempted residential burglary" in Cook County, Illinois, United States. He was sentenced on January 22, 1993, to serve five years imprisonment and given time served credit of 317 days. When his sentence was completed in the United States, the Applicant was deported to Poland from the United States but he returned to Canada on August 9, 2008 at Toronto Pearson International Airport. When he arrived back in Canada, he was admitted on a Polish passport with a temporary resident visa ("TRV") for six months.

5     In February 2010, the Applicant applied for Canadian citizenship but was rejected on June 3, 2013. CIC stated there was no indication that he was lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence. Because of his citizenship application, he came to the attention of the CBSA and the immigration task force. The Applicant was investigated and CBSA referred him under a section 44 report on February 12, 2014. As a result, CBSA issued an arrest warrant and when the Applicant was arrested in February 2014, CBSA determined he was a flight risk and detained him. At his admissibility hearing, the Board found the Illinois provision for "attempted residential burglary" to be equivalent to the Canadian criminal code provision for "attempt break and enter". The Applicant testified that his role in the crime was that he was sitting in a car outside a house that his companions were in the process of breaking into. The Board determined that he was a foreign national inadmissible for serious criminality and issued a deportation order for the Applicant.

6     The FOSS notes indicate that the file relating to the Applicant's 1989 application was destroyed in 2008 in the normal course of business. CIC has no further records for the Applicant other than FOSS notes. The FOSS notes show that the Applicant was sponsored by his father and accepted in principle for processing of permanent resident status while in Canada with work authorization. In 1991, the FOSS notes indicate that "AIP in process still". No further remarks appear until February 2011 when he requested welfare and again in September 2012 when it is documented he requested welfare again.

7     The FOSS notes show that the Applicant was eligible for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment ("PRRA") on April 10, 2014, but did not file an application.

8     To further his position he is a permanent resident he states:

·       * 

his dad picked up his PR card in 1991; 

·       * 

he never received a refusal letter from CIC; 

·       * 

he was issued a social insurance number (beginning with the number 5 indicating his landed immigrant status); and 

·       * 

he has a Ontario Health Card where his status is listed as "landed immigrant". 

II. The Board's Decision on Equivalence

9     The Board rendered an oral decision following the admissibility hearing and found that the Applicant was inadmissible pursuant to section 36(1)(b) of the IRPA. The Board found that while the Applicant claimed to be a PR of Canada, he was unable to produce any objective evidence of his status. The Minister produced an email from CBSA to CIC that showed there was no record of PR status or any other lawful status in Canada for the Applicant. As well, the Respondent provided the June 2013 rejection letter from CIC which indicated the Applicant's lack of status.

10     The Board noted that the Applicant pled guilty and was convicted of attempt residential burglary on September 28, 1992. The Board concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that he was convicted of the Illinois offence.

11     With respect to equivalence, the Board recited the Illinois provision and section 24(1) (attempts) of the Canada Criminal Code, RSC 1985 c C-46 ("Code") and found the wording of the attempt statutes to be "virtually identical". The Board noted they both referred to intention, commission of an offence and for acts committed for the purpose of carrying out that intention. The Board referred to section 463 of the Code, where there is a fourteen year sentence for an attempt of an indictable offence punishable with life.

12     Finally, the Board compared the provisions for residential burglary in Illinois and "break and enter" section 348 of the Code in Canada. The Board determined that both offences refer to a dwelling place or house, both refer to breaking and/or entering, which is to enter without authority; both refer to intention to commit the offence and found that the elements of the provisions are equivalent. Section 348 is an indictable offence punishable by up to life sentence. In sum, the Board found there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Applicant is an inadmissible foreign national as contemplated by the IRPA and issued a deportation order.

III. Issues

·       A. 

Is the Board's equivalence analysis reasonable? 

·       B. 

Should CIC be ordered to process the 1989 application and grant the Applicant PR status? 

IV. Analysis

·       A. 

Equivalence Analysis

·       (1) 

Standard of Review 

13     The standard of review for equivalence for the purpose of inadmissibility pursuant to subsection 36(1)(b) of the IRPA is reasonableness (Abid v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2011 FC 164 ("Abid")). Findings of equivalence are decisions of mixed fact and law and so attract deference (Abid at para 11).

14     The Applicant argues that inadmissibility findings based on facts of an offence committed abroad are assessed on a reasonableness standard, but that the equivalency analysis is a correctness standard because it is a pure question of law. I disagree. The underlying act that constitutes the foreign offence is an assessment of fact by the Board and the subsequent equivalence is an analysis of mixed fact and law (Ulybin v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2013 FC 629 at 19 ("Ulybin")).

15     As described by Madam Justice Snider in Ulybin at para 21:

·       21 How does the reasonableness standard apply to the analysis in issue? It is important that the Officer carrying out the equivalency analysis understand the elements of the comparable offence. A failure to address one of the elements would make the analysis unreasonable. However, the Officer's application of the facts to the Criminal Code elements is a matter for which the Officer is owed deference by the Court. This exercise may lead to more than one reasonable outcome, particularly when taking into account the highly factual determination of equivalency

·       Emphasis added 

16     There is divergent case law where the equivalence analysis is characterized as a question of law attracting a correctness review (Park v Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2010 FC 782 at 12). However, other jurisprudence as listed above finds that it is a reasonableness standard. I applied Madam Justice Snider's reasoning to use a reasonableness standard in this case because of the fact-specific nature of the equivalence analysis.

17     The equivalency analysis may be conducted by one of three methods as described in Hill v Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1987] F.C.J. No. 47 (QL):

·       1. 

By comparison of the precise wording of each statute through documents and if available, through experts in foreign law in order to find the essential ingredients of the offences; 

·       2. 

By examining the evidence before the adjudicator of the foreign conviction to determine if the essential elements of the Canadian offence were established in the foreign proceeding or 

·       3. 

A combination of method #1 and method #2 

18     As Mr. Justice Roy stated in Victor v Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2013 FC 979 at para 43, the three methods are alternatives and there is no hierarchy between them. The Board must have reasonable grounds to believe that certain facts have occurred (s. 33, IRPA); "reasonable grounds" refers to a standard that is something more than mere suspicion but less than the balance of probabilities standard (Mugesera v Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2005 SCC 40). It is not necessary to compare all the general principles of criminal responsibility; it is sufficient to examine and compare the two offences, not the comparability of possible convictions consequently the equivalence analysis does not attempt to re-try the person (Li v Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), [1997] 1 FC 235 at para 19 ("Li")). It is clearly the equivalence of the offence that is assessed, not the equivalence of the law (Steward v Canada (Minister of Employment & Immigration), [1988] 3 FC 452 (FCA); Ngo v Canada (Minister of Citizenship & Immigration), 2005 FC 609).

·       (2) 

Applicant's Submissions -- equivalence 

19     The Applicant argues that the words of the statute are not virtually identical as the Board described. At paragraph 11 of his submissions, the Applicant submits that the Canadian attempts provision is broader. The differences argued by the Applicant are outlined in the following chart:

20     The Applicant also argues that the equivalence analysis between Illinois "residential burglary" provision and the Canadian "residential break and enter" provision are inaccurate and in error.

21     The Applicant submitted that the Board was required to look into the facts underlying the Illinois conviction to determine what actually transpired in Illinois and if they constitute the essential elements of the Canadian offence. The Applicant's position was that the Board was in error because she conducted her equivalence assessment only the basis of the US conviction.

22     The Applicant cites Brannson v Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration [1981] 2 FC 141 ("Brannson"), to demonstrate that there must first be evidence that the essential ingredients of the Canadian provision are included in the foreign offence and secondly there should be evidence that the circumstances resulting in the charge, count, indictment or other document to initiate the criminal proceeding would constitute an offence in Canada.

23     The Applicant also relies on Lei v Canada (Solicitor General), [1994] F.C.J. No. 222, where the court set that decision aside because without evidence as to the circumstances that resulted in the US conviction, no finding of equivalency could be made.

24     The Applicant submits that the Board did not accept that during the commission of the crime in Illinois, he stayed in his car while others broke a garage window. The Applicant argues that the Board did not provide reasons why this version of events was not accepted and that the failure or omission to consider the Applicant's actions is fatal to the equivalency assessment. The Applicant submits that his actions are in fact equivalent to the mischief section 430 of the Code which is not an indictable offence.

·       (3) 

Applicant's Submissions -- Rehabilitation 

25     The Applicant's position is that he should not have been reported as inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality because his conviction was 21 years ago and he completed his sentence at least 16 years ago. Subsection 36(3)(c) of the IRPA provides that after a prescribed period, the foreign national or permanent resident may satisfy the Minister that they are rehabilitated. The Applicant does not argue that he qualifies for deemed rehabilitation.

26     The Applicant submits that the Certified Tribunal Record contains no other evidence that he was convicted of an offence other than the United States offence. The Applicant submits that he told the Board about his rehabilitation by saying "...I've been keeping my nose clean for so many years. I just try to do good and comply with all laws". The Applicant submits that the Board should have been satisfied that the Applicant was rehabilitated.

·       (4) 

Analysis 

27     In my view, the Board conducted the equivalence analysis with a valid United States conviction, and evidence to support that the conviction occurred. The Applicant submits that only meagre facts were established by the record during the hearing and so with a very brief description of the events that led to the conviction, it is impossible for the Board to understand what the elements of the offence are. The standard, however, is that there must be "...reasonable grounds to believe" that a conviction would occur in Canada and it is not the Board's duty to re-try the crime with the precise facts of the events leading to the conviction. The Board used the third method described in Hill, above, where a combination of comparing the wording of the provisions and evidence of the facts of the conviction to determine that there was equivalence.

28     The key point is that it is not necessary for the Board to determine whether there was sufficient evidence for an actual conviction in Canada. It is whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Applicant would be convicted if the same act were committed in Canada. Consequently, the equivalence is between the provisions and not the comparability of possible convictions. Furthermore, the equivalence analysis allows for different statutory wording (Brannson, above).

29     From my reading of the Board's decision, method three from Hill was used to find equivalence.

30     The Board starts with a determination that the Applicant was convicted in the United States of the Illinois offence. The Board uses the evidence of:

·       * 

his guilty plea, 

·       * 

that a conviction is registered in the National Crime Information Centre, 

·       * 

that he has fingerprints matching an FBI database for convictions; and 

·       * 

that a certified statement of conviction from Illinois establishes that he was convicted. 

31     This is the Board first using method two to examine the evidence adduced before her to establish the Illinois conviction.

32     Then, the Board switched to method one and extracted the necessary elements of both the Canadian and Illinois provisions, and found the necessary elements were equivalent. Consequently, the Board ultimately used method three to find equivalence because she used a combination of both methods.

33     The Board found the equivalent essential elements between the attempt provisions to be (1) intent; (2) to commit offence; and (3) acts for the purpose of committing an offence. This is a reasonable extraction of elements from the provisions. The Board found the equivalent essential elements of the burglary/break and enter provision to be (1) dwelling house (same as dwelling place); (2) breaking and/or entering to be the same as enter without authority; (3) intention to commit offence; (4) theft or felony equivalent to indictable offence.

34     I disagree with the Applicant's argument that "break and enter" is not the same as "enter without authority" because it is a distinction without a difference. The Board recognized that the wording was different but that the purpose and meaning of the words was the same. As described in Li, above at paragraph 18, the words must be similar or involve the same criteria -- there is no requirement that the words be identical in order to find equivalence:

·       I believe that it would be most consistent with the purposes of the statute, and not inconsistent with the jurisprudence of this Court, to conclude that what equivalency of offences requires is essentially the similarity of definitions of offences. A definition is similar if it involves similar criteria for establishing that an offence has occurred, whether those criteria are manifested in "elements" (in the narrow sense) or "defences" in the two sets of laws. In my view the definition of an offence involves the elements and defences particular to that offence, or perhaps to that class of offences. 

35     The Applicant's argument outlined in the chart above attempts to suggest that the Canadian provision is not equivalent to the Illinois one, but what he has really demonstrated is that the Canadian offence is broader, therefore, I see that it necessarily includes the acts that would constitute an offence in Illinois. Further, the Board found and extracted the essential ingredients of each offence and then considered whether they were equivalent. I find the Board's analysis is reasonable. Finally, for the Court to undertake a discrete analysis of the exact wording of the provisions and do its own equivalence analysis as the Applicant does in his memoranda would end up being a correctness review rather than a reasonableness review.

36     The Applicant argues that in Li, the decision of equivalence was set aside because without evidence as to the circumstances of the United States conviction, there could be no finding of equivalency. Lei can very easily distinguished because in that case, the court found the Canadian offence was narrower and as such, the adjudicator would have to go beyond the words of the statute and the acts would have to be analyzed. In the case at bar, the reasonableness of the equivalence is what is assessed at the Federal Court and I determined that the equivalence was reasonable. As such, the underlying facts do not need to be analyzed as suggested by the Applicant. The reliance on Ngo, above, does not stand because in that case, the board did not undertake any equivalency analysis between the specific wording of the statutes whereas here, the Board did exactly that.

37     Similarly, the Applicant's reliance on Brannson is also faulty because the Canadian provision was narrower in that case and so the actions leading to the charge had to be analysed to determine if they would constitute a crime in Canada. Because of the difference in scope between the two provisions, the court found that the board in Bransson was obligated to investigate if the actions in the foreign jurisdiction would be captured by the Canadian provision.

38     In his Further Memorandum of Argument, the Applicant strongly argues that the Board was required to look into the facts of the United States conviction in order to find equivalence. However, I just repeat that the Board is not required to re-try the Applicant to see if he would be convicted in Canada. The bar is simply not that high -- the Board only needs to find reasonable grounds to believe that such an act would lead to a conviction in Canada. Li does not allow for the Board to conduct a "mini-trial" but that the Board must compare the provisions, not the chance of conviction in Canada. Brannson also states that the "essential ingredients, or elements constituting the Canadian offence" must be assessed for equivalence to the elements of the foreign provision, not necessarily the facts constituting the offence. Brannson at paragraph 38 states:

·       [I]n determining whether the offence committed abroad would be an offence in Canada under a particular Canadian statutory provision, it would be appropriate to proceed with this in mind: Whatever the names given the offences or the words used in defining them, one must determine the essential elements of each and be satisfied that these essential elements correspond. 

39     The Applicant's argument that his actions are more in line with mischief and that the Crown would have proceeded in such a way is also an inappropriate consideration. The Board is not required to guess what the Crown would have done in Canada. The Board's role is to compare the provisions to determine if there are reasonable grounds to believe a conviction would have occurred.

40     In light of the above, I find that the Board reasonably assessed the equivalence between the Canadian and US provision. The Board conducted a thorough analysis of the provisions and analysed their wording to find them equivalent.

41     In regards to rehabilitation, the Applicant is required to complete a rehabilitation application before the Board can properly consider if he is rehabilitated. The onus is again on the Applicant to submit such an application and then ensure that an approved application is before the Board. This is described by Mr. Justice Shore in Akanmu Alabi v Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2008 FC 370:

·       [36] Mr. Akanmu Alabi's assertion must fail for a number of reasons. The onus is on Mr. Akanmu Alabi to establish that the Minister has deemed him to be rehabilitated. This would necessarily involve adducing evidence before the Immigration Division to establish that fact. 

·       [37] Secondly, the Immigration Division may only assess the evidence that is put before it. Unless evidence of the Minister's positive finding of rehabilitation is adduced, the Immigration Division cannot assess whether paragraph 36(3)(c) of the IRPA applies. If he was indeed determined to be rehabilitated by the Minister, it was incumbent on Mr. Akanmu Alabi to adduce that evidence before the Immigration Division Member. 

·       [38] Mr. Akanmu Alabi cannot be considered rehabilitated without adducing evidence that such a finding was made. The Immigration Division cannot be faulted for expecting the he adduce such evidence. 

42     At the hearing I asked the Respondent to provide the processing times for a rehabilitation application and it was provided as approximately 12 months.

43     No rehabilitation application had been filed at the time of the hearing. I find it was reasonable for the Board not to consider whether the Applicant was rehabilitated.

·       B. 

Should CIC be Ordered to Process the 1989 Application and Grant the Applicant PR Status?

44     The Applicant makes this application seeking declaratory relief against the alleged "unwillingness" of CIC to finalize the Applicant's 1989 application for PR status. In the alternative, the Applicant seeks a mandamus order compelling CIC to grant him PR status or alternatively, to compel CIC to complete the processing of the 1989 application within a specific time frame. The Applicant seeks costs on a partial-indemnity basis for the long delay in processing the application. There was no additional communication between the Applicant and CIC following the submission of the 1989 application and the 1991 FOSS notes that indicate that it is still in process.

45     The Applicant does not dispute that he could not be landed at any point after the coming into force of the IRPA because CIC could not be satisfied that he is inadmissible since his medical, criminal and security clearance are mostly likely expired. The Applicant instead argues that he met all the statutory requirements of the former Immigration Act and its Regulations as of 1990 or 1991, and CIC refused or failed to land the Applicant between 1989 and 1993 (the year he was convicted in the US).

46     The Applicant submits that the criteria for issuing a writ of mandamus has been met (Apotex Inc v Canada (Attorney General), [1994] 1 FC 742 at 55; Conille v Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), [1999] 2 FC 33 at 8). The Criterias are:

·       * 

There is a public legal duty to the applicant to act 

·       * 

The duty must be owed to the applicant 

·       * 

There is a clear right to the performance of that duty, in particular: (a) the applicant has satisfied all conditions precedent giving rise to the duty; (b) there was a prior demand for performance of the duty, a reasonable time to comply with the demand, and a subsequent refusal which can be either expressed or implied, eg unreasonable delay; and 

·       * 

There is no other adequate remedy. 

47     Both counsel presented very compelling and excellent arguments. While it is somewhat of an enigma regarding what really happened to the 1989 application, the onus is on the Applicant to prove his status. The evidence before the Board does not support that he was ever given PR status even though his application was processed through stage one. Making the determination of what happened more difficult, the Applicant chose not to provide evidence for some of the gaps in time periods. Further complicating the situation is that there is a sparse CIC file since the file was destroyed as per the normal course of business in 2008 and remaining are only the FOSS notes.

48     Upon judicial review of two of his detention hearings, Mr. Justice Hughes wrote in Moscicki v Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2014 FC 993 at para 6 "...while the Applicant has been in detention for some eight months the only reason why he has not yet been removed is his refusal to co-operate with the Polish authorities. He is the author of his own continued detention."

49     I echo Mr. Justice Hughes and say that the Applicant is the author of his own misfortune regarding his status in Canada. I have some sympathy for the Applicant as the sponsorship happened when he was a young person and his young age may account for not following up with CIC. However, when the Applicant returned to Canada in 2008, he should have understood that he did not have PR status when he only received a 6 month TRV. All of the documents from the State of Illinois say he is a citizen of Poland and that is where he was deported to after serving his sentence. So again the fact he was not a PR in Canada should have been clear to him when he entered the American legal system in 1992.

50     The Applicant argues that he has met these requirements for a mandamus order: (1) CIC has a public legal duty to process his permanent residence application and that duty is found in subsection 5(2) of the former Immigration Act and subsection 11(1) of the IRPA which imposes a obligation to grant landing to applications who meet the relevant statutory requirements; (2) once CIC determined the Applicant was a dependent son under subsection 2(1) of the former Regulations, CIC was obliged to assess whether landing could be granted; (3) the Applicant submitted a complete application, supporting documents and processing fee which required a CIC officer to perform his or her duty and (4) the application has been in process for almost 25 years which is an unreasonable delay. This is sufficient for mandamus order. But for the CIC's delay, the Applicant submits that he would have been landed as early as 1990 or 1991.

51     The Applicant states that the evidence is conflicting about his status in that CIC has confirmed they have no record of his landing however Service Canada indicates he is a landed immigrant and there is no decision confirming refusal of his application. The Applicant points particularly to the Service Canada evidence which according to Toussaint v Canada (Attorney General), 2011 FCA 213 at 40, Service Canada is prohibited from approving medical coverage to foreign nationals. The Applicant submits that in absence of contrary evidence, it should be deemed that Service Canada was diligent when verifying the Applicant's status prior to approving his renewal application in March 2013.

52     The Federal Court has jurisdiction to grant a writ of mandamus pursuant to the Federal Courts Act, RSC 1985, c F-7, section 18.1(3). That order may be made if the test from Apotex, above is satisfied. Madam Justice Gagné in Magalong v Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2014 FC 966, described Apotex as:

·       [21] The writ of mandamus is a discretionary equitable remedy. It "lies to compel the performance of a public legal duty which a public authority refuses or neglects to perform although duly called upon to do so" (Dragan v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2003 FCT 211, [2003] 4 FC 189 at para 38). 

·       [22] The parties agree that the following criteria must be satisfied, as set forth in Apotex Inc v Canada (Attorney General), 1993 CanLII 3004 (FCA), [1994] 1 FC 742, aff'd [1994] 3 SCR 1100 at para 45, before the Court can issue a writ of mandamus: 

·       1. 

there must be a public duty to act under the circumstances; 

·       2. 

the duty must be owed to the applicant; 

·       3. 

there must be a clear right to performance of that duty, in particular: 

·       (a) 

the applicant has satisfied all conditions precedent giving rise to the duty; 

·       (b) 

there was (i) a prior demand for performance of the duty; (ii) a reasonable time to comply with the demand unless refused outright; and (iii) a subsequent refusal which can be either expressed or implied, e.g. unreasonable delay; 

·       4. 

no other adequate remedy is available to the applicant; 

·       5. 

the order sought must have some practical effect; 

·       6. 

in the exercise of its discretion, the Court must find no equitable bar to the relief sought; and, 

·       7. 

on a balance of convenience, an order of mandamus should issue. 

53     In Singh v Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2010 FC 757 ("Singh"), following the Apotex analysis, Mr. Justice de Montigny found that CIC had a public legal duty to process a permanent residence application in an analogous case:

·       [50] ...It is clear that CIC has a public legal duty to process the Applicant's permanent residence application. Section 5(2) of the former Immigration Act imposed on CIC a clear obligation to grant landing to an applicant for permanent residence who meets the relevant statutory requirements, and the same is true by virtue of section 11(1) of IRPA: see, for example, Dragan, above, at para. 40; Vaziri v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2006 FC 1159, [2006] F.C.J. No. 1458 at para. 41. 

54     In Singh, above, the facts are similar as are the statutory provisions: the applicant in that case advanced to stage two processing in order to determine whether he met the statutory requirements for landing but his application was not approved because CIC determined that a photocopy of his passport was not sufficient to meet the requirements. Criminal charges were laid in the intervening years and the applicant never obtained PR status. Mr. Justice de Montigny found that once the applicant submitted a completed application with required supporting documents and paid the fee, he had a right to a performance of the duty described above. In the ten years prior to the charges being laid, the Court found that the applicant was entitled to PR status and consequently issued a mandamus order.

55     While on its face, Singh is analogous, the crucial documentary evidence of the 1989 file is destroyed and the facts are far from identical as the Applicant argues. The Applicant here has complained of a 25 year delay and under the same provisions of the Act in force in 1993 as in Singh, also is owed a duty by the CIC to complete the application since the FOSS notes indicate that the application was being processed. Unfortunately, the Applicant cannot establish that he has satisfied all the conditions precedent that give rise to that duty as required from Apotex.

56     The Respondent rightly argues that there is no evidence to prove that the Applicant met the requirements of permanent residence or that the delay is not his own fault.

57     Unlike Singh, the evidence that may establish that the Applicant met the statutory requirements is ambiguous. Further, in Singh, the applicant and his counsel repeatedly contacted CIC for updates and there was an actual file date and file entry indicating that he satisfied all the statutory requirements.

58     A further complication arises however because it is the Respondent who is responsible for the destruction of the file that would demonstrate whether they failed to act. Had the file been intact and complete, considering an order of mandamus would be appropriate however without that evidence it is impossible to process the 1989 PR application.

59     In Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v Obodzinsky, [2000] F.C.J. No. 1675, the issue of destruction of immigration files was raised. Mr. Justice Marc Nadon found that the routine destruction of immigration files is reasonable and does not constitute negligence on the part of the government. Further, the destruction of the file impacts both parties because the existence of the file is determinative for both parties.

60     The Respondent has the ability to fill in some of the gaps in the time period that the file does not cover. The CIC file shows he met the stage one requirements and was given a work permit (October 18, 1989 to February 5, 1992) while being sponsored by his father when he arrived as a 17 year old on October 18, 1989. He provided a SIN and health card that indicates he was a PR, but I do not find that determinative as he was a child and being sponsored by his father and I have no evidence that these were not given on the basis of being a sponsored child. I have no evidence showing that he was a PR and had completed stage two, The FOSS notes shows that on February 5, 1991, the application was in process and then nothing else. So there is a three year period from October 1989 until the conviction on January 22, 1993 where there is no evidence.

61     I do not have evidence of exactly when he served his sentence or when he was deported from the United States. I have evidence he was in Chicago on 08/12/93 when he was released. But, there is no evidence of his whereabouts until he arrived back in Canada on August 9, 2008 with a Polish passport and was issued a six month temporary resident visa in order to be allowed entry into Canada. This passport was not produced as evidence.

62     I have no evidence whether he worked or where he worked during the missing time periods or for that matter where he resided in the world. The Applicant has chosen not to provide evidence to assist. While the Applicant stated in his affidavit and in written argument that he has "over twenty years of residence in Canada", there is no evidence to support that such as tax returns or his proof of where he resided. We do know he applied for welfare on two occasions from the FOSS notes.

63     I understand the Applicant's arguments and do believe that when he was 17 years old that he knew the process was initiated and had the documentation to continue on with his life. He probably thought he had permanent resident status but I see no evidence that he progressed beyond stage one. In this case, there is no "clear right" to granting PR status and it is far from obvious that the Applicant satisfied all the conditions precedent giving rise to the duty to grant PR status.

64     I am not prepared to grant any of the relief sought by the Applicant which was:

·       * 

Declaratory relief that in 1990 CIC failed to perform legal duties regarding the Applicant's PR application; 

·       * 

Declare is the Applicant's status is in principle for a PR; 

·       * 

Declare both the deportation and exclusion orders (removal orders) stayed pursuant to s. 233 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations because of public policy until CIC grants PR status; 

·       * 

Issue a writ of mandamus to compel CIC to process the PR application within 90 days under stage two since stage one (approval in principle) is already complete. 

65     Based on what is before the Court, I do not see there is evidence to compel CIC to grant Permanent Residence.

66     The Applications are dismissed and no special costs are ordered as requested. No question is certified.

·       THIS COURT'S JUDGMENT is that:

·       1. 

The applications are dismissed; 

·       2. 

No costs are ordered; 

·       3. 

No question is certified. 

McVEIGH J.