Groups call for repeal of medical inadmissibility rule for immigrants in Canada

  • Page Views 2026
  • Organizations representing key groups of immigrants excluded from Canada due to medical inadmissibility are very disappointed in the announcement on April 16 by Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen for not repealing Section 38(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

    This section of the immigration law denies permanent residency to an entire family if a member of the family is sick or has a disability and deemed to pose an “excessive demand” on health and social services.

    In a media release, the groups said that it’s time to end these discriminatory laws.

    “Our advocacy resulted in a review by the federal Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in 2017, which ultimately echoed our recommendation for a full repeal. Instead of taking this principled position, the Immigration Minister Hussen today [April 16] announced only minor tweaks to the existing, and deeply flawed, regime,” the media release states.

    The groups are the Caregivers Action Centre, Council of Canadians With Disabilities, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, and the Migrant Workers Centre.

    “Today’s announcement continues to uphold discriminatory medical inadmissibility laws. Today’s changes that promise to increase the cost threshold and amend the definition of social services, if properly implemented, may ensure that many future immigrants living with HIV and some people with disabilities may no longer be excluded,” according to the media release.

    “However, the underlying issue remains: people with disabilities continue to be considered as burdens on Canadian society. Today’s announcement also fails to address retroactive cases, such that all of the applicants currently in Canada who are separated from family members with disabilities remain in limbo.

    “It is important to note that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, which recommended the repeal of the law in late 2017, noted that “savings [from this law] are not known and were not provided to the Committee.” The Government of Canada, while explicitly agreeing with the Standing Committee’s recommendation to repeal this legislation, has failed to bring its policies in line with inclusivity for persons with disabilities and with Canada’s domestic and international human rights obligations,” the media release states.

    Share

    New Posts Recently publish post More

    • 31 March 2023
      2 days ago No comment

      Moira Live in Vancouver Press Conference at Grandt Kitchen

        Get ready for a night of love and music with Moira Dela Torre, TJ Monterde & Zephanie Dimaranan! Catch them Live in Vancouver on Friday March 31, 2023 at Aria Banquet Hall & Convention Centre. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable concert filled with original OPM sound, love ...

    • 31 March 2023
      2 days ago No comment

      Letting Go with Lani Maestro & Michael Fernandes

        The conversation at the Vancouver Art Gallery proved to be up close and personal. The zoom event was not an art lecture but, as promised, an “impromptu, unrehearsed conversation” between the Offsite artist Lani Maestro, artist Michael Fernandes and the people joining them by Zoom. At least 40 ...

    • 31 March 2023
      2 days ago No comment

      PBA Greats Alvin Patrimonio, Atoy Co, Jerry Codinera wish ‘Iron Man’ LA Tenorio well

        “Bakit pa nga ba ako tinawag na Iron Man kung hindi ko kayang gampanan ang ibig sabihin nito.” Thus, was how Philippine basketball’s ’Iron Man,” LA Tenorio told this writer in an interview a week before Christmas Day three years ago in answer to query why he should ...

    %d bloggers like this: