Federal Court Decisions

Date: 20160314

Docket: IMM-3231-15

Citation: 2016 FC 305

Ottawa, Ontario, March 14, 2016

PRESENT:    The Honourable Mr. Justice Martineau

JUDGMENT AND REASONS

[1]               This is a judicial review application against a decision made by the Immigration Appeal Division [IAD] of the Immigration and Refugee Board [Board] on June 23, 2015, refusing to grant to the applicant an extension of delay to commence an appeal against a removal order.

[2]               The applicant is a citizen of Vietnam. He became a permanent resident of Canada on November 14, 2007. While in Canada, he was convicted of “Production of Substance” under subsection 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, SC 1996, c 19, and “Theft of Gas / Electricity” under paragraph 326(1)(a) of the Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46 [Criminal Code]. He was sentenced to a twelve month conditional sentence (house arrest).

[3]               On March 31, 2014, the Immigration Division [ID] of the Board found the applicant to be inadmissible to Canada on grounds of serious criminality pursuant to paragraph 36(1)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c 27 [Act], which reads as follows:

[4]               Subsections 64(1) and (2) of the Act provide that no appeal may be made to the IAD on findings of serious criminality:

[5]               The applicant did not file a notice of appeal within the 30 day delay prescribed in subsection 5(3) of the Immigration Appeal Division Rules, SOR/2002-230.

[6]               On November 4, 2014, in Tran v Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2014 FC 1040, the Federal Court decided that an interpretation of paragraph 36(1)(a) of the Act which included a conditional sentence as a “term of imprisonment” was unreasonable. This decision was appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness [Minister]. In the meantime, through new counsel, the applicant sought an extension of delay to file an appeal to the IAD and asked the latter to grant him an adjournment pending a final determination of the Minister’s appeal in Tran.

[7]               The IAD refused to adjourn the case and found that the conditions to grant an extension of delay to file an appeal against the ID decision were not met. The IAD further noted that the proposed appeal lacked merit since the words “term of imprisonment” in subsection 64(2) of the Act includes a conditional sentence, and thus, the applicant had no right of appeal in this case.

[8]               On July 14, 2005, the applicant filed the present application for leave and judicial review, and on December 3, 2015, leave was granted by a judge of this Court. The matter was heard on its merits in Toronto on March 1, 2016.

[9]               In the meantime, on October 30, 2015, the Federal Court of Appeal released its decision in Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) v Tran, 2015 FCA 237. The Federal Court of Appeal allowed the appeal by the Minister. It found that a conditional sentence of imprisonment imposed pursuant to the regime set out in sections 742 to 742.7 of the Criminal Code may reasonably be construed as a term of imprisonment under paragraph 36(1)(a) of the Act.

[10]           The applicant, who now represents himself, explained at the hearing of this judicial review application that he loves his family, that he is the father of a baby, and that he feels remorse for the crime for which he was convicted. He wishes to remain in Canada because he needs to help his wife and child who are living with him, as well as his mother and grandmother in Vietnam, who are counting on his financial assistance.

[11]           I have considered both the written and oral representations of the parties, and have decided that the present judicial review application must be dismissed. The standard of review of the impugned decision of the IAD on the application to extend the delay to file an appeal against the ID decision is reasonableness. The decision of the IAD not to adjourn the matter pending the result of the appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal in Tran was reasonable. So was its decision to refuse an extension because, notably, the case lacks sufficient merit. The IAD considered all relevant factors. The decision of the Federal Court of Appeal in Tran is determinative and now binding. The applicant seems to have exhausted all available means under the Act and this Court has no power to allow the applicant to remain in Canada.

[12]           For the above reasons, the application is dismissed. There is no question of general importance raised in this case.

JUDGMENT

THIS COURT’S JUDGMENT is that the application for judicial review is dismissed. No question is certified.

"Luc Martineau"

FEDERAL COURT

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