Today, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner announced that the party will introduce legislation this fall to amend the Criminal Code and prevent judges from considering a person’s immigration status when determining a criminal sentence.
The proposed bill would prohibit courts from reducing or adjusting sentences based on whether an offender is a non-citizen. Under current legal practices, some judges may take into account the risk of deportation or other immigration consequences when sentencing individuals who are not Canadian citizens.
“Removing non-citizens who have been convicted of serious crimes is a no-brainer, and it’s one which the Liberals have failed to act upon,” Rempel Garner said during a press conference on Parliament Hill. “This offends all principles of fairness that should be foundational to our justice system.”
She argued that all offenders should be treated equally under the law and that immigration status should not lead to more lenient outcomes. The party says the change is intended to strengthen public confidence in the justice system and to ensure consistent sentencing standards across all cases.
The bill has not yet been introduced in the House of Commons. Its success will depend on support from other parties.
A full version of the proposed legislation is expected to be tabled when Parliament resumes in the fall.