The Exclusive Club

Immigration into Canada is thought to be simple and common. However it appears many immigrants struggle with the effort to be let into Canada, depending on whether they are a person with a physical or mental disability or if they are at the lower end of socioeconomic status you have little to no chance of immigrating into Canada. If you have the money and are 100% healthy you have a much greater chance of being let in. Social work in Canada is said to be set towards a liberal and social democratic view where everyone is to be equal and have equal opportunities in our country. However if you do not have the cash and are facing other challenges such as a physical or mental disability it gives the government a reason to deny the person with the disability to enter and immigrate into Canada.

The article by Wayne Kondro on Canadian prohibition against immigrants with disabilities shows how difficult it is for anyone with a physical disability to enter our country. The article focused on a German woman who had multiple sclerosis and decided to challenge the Canadian government prohibition against immigrants with physical and mental disabilities. She in fact was denied Canadian citizenship solely for the reason of her physical disability and fell into the inadmissible class, which is considered along side with criminals. For a person to be inadmissible under this provision, she or he should be currently suffering from a disease, disorder, disability or other health impairment or pose danger to the country. The government considered her a burden on our country and health care system simpley because of her physical disability.

Not allowing people to enter Canada based solely on their physical disability I think goes against Canada’s essence as a country and its soul meaning for equality and “social minimum”. If everyone is considered equal with equal opportunities, immigrants that have a physical disability would be just as eligible to enter Canada as the next person without a physical disability. Canada may appear to be a place where everyone is considered to be equal but this article shows that this may not always be true.

References

http://www.canadaimmigrationlaw.net/Library/admissibility.htm.

Wayne, K. (2002). Canadian prohibition against immigrants with disabilities is challenged.Vol. 359 Issue 9302, p240, 1/2p 359 retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy2.lib.umanitoba.ca/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=19&hid=10&sid=648e4001-7725-4b4f-b594-a2c21491b305%40sessionmgr113 

-Autumn B.