Press Secretary
Minister's Office
(613) 954-1064
Renй Mercier
Media Relations
Communications Branch
(613) 941-7042
Backgrounder # 1
Changes from Bill C-31
In response to Bill C-31, the government received submissions from the Canadian
Bar Association, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the
Canadian Council for Refugees and many others. The Minister has listened and
responded.
Framework Legislation
What we heard:
The government should ensure that all key principles and core policies are
reflected in the Act and not in the regulations. The regulations should be
limited to matters related to the implementation of policy.
Our response:
1.The new bill places greater emphasis on key principles, including:
The principles of equality and freedom from discrimination.
The principle that minor children should be detained only as a last
resort.
The principle of equality of status for both official languages.
2.The new bill also includes the following provisions previously intended to be
prescribed by regulation:
The provision that parents are members of the family class.
The provision that sponsored spouses, partners and dependent
children of immigrants and refugees and their dependents will not be
refused admission to Canada on the grounds that they would create
an excessive demand on the medical system.
3.The new bill also reinforces the government's commitment to gender
equality and provisions for opposite- and same-sex couples.
Provisions Affecting Permanent Residents
What we heard:
Permanent residents should have a separate, defined status that clearly
specifies their rights and obligations, including the right to enter Canada.
Loss of status determinations should be made only through an oral appeal
to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
Our response:
The new bill enhances the rights of permanent residents by:
Including a separate definition for permanent residents that highlights the
distinction between permanent residents and other foreign nationals.
Ensuring the right to an oral hearing before the IRB in the case of appeals
on the loss of permanent resident status.
Ensuring facilitated entry for permanent residents without a valid permanent
resident card if they have been outside Canada for less than one year.
Setting a higher threshold for examinations for permanent residents than for
other foreign nationals.