Criticism On Canadian Immigration's Regulation 179

10 Aug 2010

Canada’s Regulation 179, which enables overseas Canadian visa offices to reject visa applications from anyone who they may suspect will not return from a visit to Canada, is increasingly attracting criticism. The criticism largely came from people not having the intention to move to Canada permanents or to break Canadian immigration law and they are not granted Canadian visa. Also, they are angry about the lack of detail given for the decisions made.

For instance, Peruvian development specialist, Jorge Sanabria was told that he would not be granted a Canadian visa to deliver a keynote speech at Wilfred Laurier University at the end of June, citing Regulation 179 as the reason. "I think Canada is becoming more difficult to visit," said Jorge. He added, "I think its image with foreigners is becoming more and more difficult."

Toronto immigration lawyer, Mario Bellissimo, explained, “They do not keep stats on why they refuse.” Thousands of prospective visitors have their Canadian visas rejected each year, with nothing but a ticked box against the Regulation 179 section of their application to inform them why they have failed. Another Canadian immigration lawyer, Barbara Jackman, agrees. She said, "[Regulation 179 is] completely arbitrary [and] it affects us on so many levels — social, humanitarian, cultural, and business."