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Canada MP criticises Down Syndrome woman immigration denial
Canada MP criticises Down Syndrome woman immigration denial
| Published: | 6 Apr at 4 PM |
A New Democrat MP has demanded that the government of Canada overturns a decision prohibiting an Indian family, whose son lives in B.C., emigrating to Canada because their adult daughter has Down Syndrome, reports emigrate.co.uk.
The son who resides in Vancouver, Kevin Patel, wanted to sponsor his relatives to enter Canada and become permanent residents. But Immigration Canada turned the request down because, in its words, the sister’s condition could pose an excessive burden on the country’s health and social services.
Patel questioned the priorities of the government at a news conference, asking if the target was to view turn immigration into a “nation-building exercise” or a “commercial project” in which only “smart” and “young” people can help fund the economy. He questioned whether Canada treats immigrants as commodities instead of people.
NDP citizenship critic Don Davies said the decision of the government is not upheld by facts but on prejudices of those who suffer from Down Syndrome. Davies, who highlighted his apprehensions in a note to Immigration Canada in India, described the condition of the daughter as “mild Down Syndrome”.
He claimed that the immigration officer came to a “baseless decision” which, even though the daughter would be no burden to the medical system, she would be viewed as a burden on Canada’s social security system. He added that the conclusion is not supported by facts and highlights an obsolete stereotype of Down Syndrome people.
The son who resides in Vancouver, Kevin Patel, wanted to sponsor his relatives to enter Canada and become permanent residents. But Immigration Canada turned the request down because, in its words, the sister’s condition could pose an excessive burden on the country’s health and social services.
Patel questioned the priorities of the government at a news conference, asking if the target was to view turn immigration into a “nation-building exercise” or a “commercial project” in which only “smart” and “young” people can help fund the economy. He questioned whether Canada treats immigrants as commodities instead of people.
NDP citizenship critic Don Davies said the decision of the government is not upheld by facts but on prejudices of those who suffer from Down Syndrome. Davies, who highlighted his apprehensions in a note to Immigration Canada in India, described the condition of the daughter as “mild Down Syndrome”.
He claimed that the immigration officer came to a “baseless decision” which, even though the daughter would be no burden to the medical system, she would be viewed as a burden on Canada’s social security system. He added that the conclusion is not supported by facts and highlights an obsolete stereotype of Down Syndrome people.
