CCD Dismayed Family with a Disabled Child Ordered Deported

April 13, 2011

CCD will participate in a Press Conference April 14, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Centre Saint-Pierre, 1212 Panet Street, Montreal, with the Barlagne family who are seeking a Ministerial Permit from the Minister of Immigration Jason Kenney that would allow them to stay in Canada. Their application to immigrate has been denied because they have a child with a disability. CCD has long sought amendment of the Immigration Act to remove the “excessive demand” clause that prohibits persons with disabilities from immigration to Canada if they have a disability.

Immigration Canada contends that paying $5,259 per year for Rachel Barlagne's education would be an excessive burden on Canada, so they are ordering her family to leave Montreal and abandon the life and business they are building in their adopted country.

"Canadians with disabilities are left wondering why a country that celebrates the contribution of people like Rick Hansen, Lieutenant Governor David Onley and others with a disability would deport a family seeking to build a life here in Canada simply because their child has a disability,” stated Tony Dolan, Chairperson of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.

“In March of 2010 Canada ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The actions of Immigration Canada certainly violate the spirit of the CRPD,” stated Vangelis Nikias, CCD’s CRPD Project Manager.

CCD calls upon the Minister of Immigration to allow the Barlagne family to remain in Canada on humanitarian grounds.

Canadians with disabilities also call upon all political Parties to commit to an overhaul of Canada's immigration policy to remove the discriminatory practices that put the Barlagne family's immigration to Canada in jeopardy. Canada's immigration policy is based upon a negative and outdated understanding of disability that fails to recognize the contribution that people with disabilities can, and do, make.

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a human rights organization of people with disabilities, works for an inclusive and accessible Canada.

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For more information contact:

Tony Dolan, CCD National Chairperson - 902 569-2817
Vangelis Nikias, CRPD Project Manager - 613 240-5730 cell
Laurie Beachell, CCD National Coordinator - 204 947-0303 work
or - 204 981-6179 cell