Common menu bar links
ARCHIVED - Prosecutions and Seizures
This page has been archived.
Archived Content
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.
Prairie Region (including the Northwest Territories)
Serious criminal removed from Canada
Calgary, Alberta, January 17, 2007 -- The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed today that it has removed John Anthony Bonnick, an individual with serious criminal convictions, from Canada.
"Canada’s New Government takes its responsibility to remove people who pose a threat to the safety of Canadians very seriously. Those who do not respect our laws will be dealt with accordingly," said the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety.
Mr. Bonnick was convicted in Canada of a number of crimes, including aggravated assault and living off the avails of prostitution. Based on his criminal convictions, Mr. Bonnick was ordered deported.
Individuals subject to removal are entitled to various levels of recourse. The CBSA was able to proceed with removal once Mr. Bonnick had exhausted all entitlements to appeal.
The ability to remove people is vital to protecting the safety and security of Canada, maintaining the integrity of the immigration program and ensuring fairness for those who come to this country lawfully.
For more information, please consult the following backgrounder.
-30-
For media information:
Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863
CBSA Media Enquiries - Prairie Region
Backgrounder — Removal Orders
Removal orders are issued by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada after it has been determined that a foreign national or permanent resident is inadmissible.
Throughout this process, the individual in question has the right to counsel and the opportunity to respond to the Minister’s counsel.
One who has been issued a removal order may seek judicial review before the Federal Court of Canada. A Federal Court decision may be appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal and, eventually, the Supreme Court of Canada.
Before an individual is removed from Canada, the individual is provided with the opportunity to apply to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA), which determines if the individual would be at risk of danger (e.g. torture, cruel and unusual punishment) if removed and returned to his or her country of nationality.
The individual has the opportunity to make submissions and to respond to any information that the Minister's delegate will consider in rendering the decision on the application for protection.
A favourable PRRA decision would lead to the granting of protected person status or, in certain circumstances, a temporary stay of the removal order.
A decision to deny the PRRA application is subject to judicial review. Although the individual must leave Canada, as required by the removal order, the individual may apply for a stay of removal to the Federal Court pending judicial review of the PRRA decision.
After all appeals have been exhausted, it is the responsibility of the Minister of Public Safety to see that the deportation order is carried out.
