SHOULD TRUMP BE GRANTED ENTRY TO CANADA

 - jim Young

As per the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), Sections #36 & #37, President Trump is ineligible for entry to Canada based on his criminal record. Mr. Trump has been convicted of sexual abuse, and 34 counts of fraud in the United States.

However, the IRPA provides for exceptions and special circumstances that can be taken into account. President Trump is a World Leader who is scheduled to attend the G7 Summit to be held in Kananaskis, Alberta beginning June 13. Special consideration will undoubtedly be a factor in the decision to determine if Mr. Trump is eligible to enter Canada.

Canadian Law, however, was not written with the intent of providing exceptions except where warranted. In addition to provisions that are allowed for special consideration in accordance with the IRPA there are many other factors that must also be taken into account.

1. One of the considerations that can be taken into account when reviewing entry status for a convicted felon is the length of time that has passed since the felon was convicted. Mr. Trump was convicted of his felony counts just last year. Certainly there should be no room for special consideration on this point.

2. Change in behaviour is also a subject for consideration under the IRPA. Clearly Mr. Trump has made NO attempts to change his behaviour as we see Mr. Trump continues to flagrantly disobey laws of his own country and even disregard his own policies and Supreme Court rulings.

3. Mr. Trump is not just a convicted felon, but a convicted felon with power and privilege who has demonstrated numerous times he will abuse his power and position for personal gain.

4. Mr. Trump is the only president in the United States to be impeached twice, once for abuse of power and once for incitement of insurrection. He has been accused of sedition. All of these are very serious offences.

5. Mr. Trump is openly accepting a $400 million Royal Palace Aircraft from Qatar, a country that is known to have ties with and sponsored terrorist organizations. One can only guess what favours might be expected in return.

6. Most importantly when considering the crimes that Mr. Trump HAS been convicted of we must take note that at no time has Mr. Trump acknowledged responsibility for any of his crimes nor has he shown any remorse for any of his actions. Mr. Trump has taken no steps towards rehabilitation. In fact Mr. Trump continues to perpetuate the myth of his innocence, placing blame on others and threatening to repeat many of his offences.

Mr. Trump’s stay in Canada will be very high profile and a highly volatile situation. A powder keg of this kind waiting to be kindled could put many Canadians at great risk. Let’s not lose sight of the intent of the IRPA which is, first and foremost, to PROTECT Canadians by not subjecting them needlessly to harm’s way. At no time has the intent of the IRPA ever been to provide exceptions for the convenience of a convicted felon from outside Canada.

I acknowledge that Mr. Trump, as a World Leader should be entitled to the respect that the office of the President of the United States deserves. However as Canadians we too deserve and demand the same level of respect be provided in return.

President Trump has never once offered Canada even the slightest respect and has further demonstrated his lack of regard for Canada by:

• breaking established Trade Agreements that President Trump himself had negotiated and agreed to,

• referring to Canada’s leaders as “Governor” rather than their proper title of “Prime Minister”, 

• continuously threatening to annex Canada

• spreading other falsehoods and outright lies about Canada, a country that has been nothing less than an ally and friend to the United States.

Lastly, as Mr. Trump is currently engaged in a crackdown to prevent visitors with criminal records entry into the United States, would it not be perceived as hypocrisy, and in fact a show of great disrespect to Mr. Trump if the Canadian government were to take any other position but to deny Mr. Trump entry into Canada? 

There are simply no redeeming qualities in Mr. Trump’s demeanor or character that might warrant him worthy of exception of Canadian law to ban his entry into Canada even for the G7 Summit meeting.

This is a world leader that ought not be admitted into Canada under any circumstances.

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