Kenney seeks ban on foreign visitors

Canada, 17th October: Canada immigration minister Jason Kenney is seeking extra powers to ban foreign visitors to Canada.

He has reportedly favored a controversial law that will provide him increased jurisdiction to see who can be allowed entry into Canada and vice versa.

Ban foreigners with no criminal history—Kenney—In a significant move, Kenney has sought to get authority under the proposed legislation Bill C43 to deny foreigners’ entry on the basis of ‘public policy grounds’.

For this, he intends to get suggestions from all the concerned parties to help strike a perfect balance between denying foreigners who espouse political opinions and those who might promote violence or hatred through their views.

He is thinking whether to forward the Bill C-43 to the committee or not.

Canada immigration minister justified the need for Bill C43 to ban people without any criminal involvement but who might be a potential threat to Canada’s safety.

Bill C-43—The power in Bill C-43 called ‘negative discretion’ will extend authority to Canada immigration minister to disallow entry of any non-citizen likely to give air to violence or hatred after entering Canada. As per current rules, any foreigner cannot be simply ruled out as misfit for entering Canada on the basis of national security or criminality.

The proposal, if forwarded and approved, will deny foreigners to enter Canada even though they may not be having any record or serious crime, Kenney maintains.

Sufficient powers already with minister—Critics allege--Meanwhile, critics are of the view that Canada border officials already have authority to deny foreigners’ entry into Canada on the basis of financial or health reasons or for being involved in any criminal activity, security breach or violation of human rights.

And any further powers will equip the immigration minister to do whatever he pleases, claims Raoul Boulakia, a veteran Canada immigration lawyer.

Even Kenney acknowledges the fact that additional powers could be subject to misuse. Hence, he wants to have a detailed discussion about the issue with not just his own party members but also with the opposition members.

And he also clarified that the motive of such proposed bill is not to rob anyone a chance to enter Canada just because his or her opinion are different from Canada’s political views.