Why it just became harder to remove security threats from Canada

By Sophie Milman and Sheryl Saperia

Canadians’ patience with immigration mismanagement is wearing thin: 56 per cent believe that immigration levels are too high, and one-third believe immigration increases crime. Their growing fears about public safety have now been compounded by the Federal Court, which just released a ruling that threatens to make things worse.

In the Oct. 10 decision of Ali v. Canada, the court imposed two new requirements on immigration officials: they must demonstrate a “rational link” between an individual’s past conduct and actual danger to Canadian security. The court also held that Canada’s non-refoulement obligations — the prohibition on returning people to face persecution or serious harm — must be considered at the inadmissibility stage, even though tha