Lena Diab’s Record of Failures

Ottawa, ON - Today, the Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner, Conservative Shadow Minister for Immigration, released the following statement in response to the Minister of Immigration's refusal to address the issue of non-citizens convicted of serious crimes receiving lenient sentences in order to avoid deportation:

"Last night, Minister Diab displayed an utter disregard for the need of all non-citizens to both abide by the rule of law and face the law's consequences, including deportation, when convicted of a serious crime in Canada.

"Her lack of compassion for victims was particularly stunning when presented by a case of a constituent of my colleague, MP Kelly DeRidder. This case involved a non-citizen being convicted of choking his partner and being allowed to stay in Canada, while his victim now has to live in a women's shelter due to him repeatedly breaching probation.

"Even when confronted with all of the cases below, she stood by non-citizen criminals, and refused to act to protect Canadians and stop two-tier justice:

• A non-citizen was convicted of a violent assault, stabbing a man in the arm and abdomen. The victim's arm needed 18 stitches, and his stomach required 50 staples to close. The attacker received a conditional sentence of two years less a day to prevent him from being deported.
• A temporary foreign worker assaulted a woman and then robbed her, yet he was given a lenient sentence.
• A non-citizen in Kitchener battered his girlfriend, and then a judge gave him a lenient sentence so he would not be deported.
• A non-citizen trucker received a lenient sentence specifically so that he could dodge deportation after they caused a fatal crash in Ontario.
• A non-citizen was found guilty of assault, then he broke his no-contact order. Yet he was still given a lenient sentence to avoid deportation.
• A non-citizen was caught trafficking cocaine, and yet he was given a lenient sentence to avoid deportation.
• A non-citizen was convicted of major theft - a crime that carries a potential punishment of ten years in prison. Instead of being deported, she received a house arrest to avoid deportation.
• A non-citizen spied on his roommates while they used the bathroom. Then he was given a lenient sentence so he would not face deportation.
• A non-citizen sexually assaulted an 18 year old girl in a nightclub in Calgary, then he was given a lenient sentence to avoid deportation.
• A non-citizen who has committed a string of crimes in Calgary pleaded guilty to a lesser crime of assault in order to avoid deportation.
• A non-citizen caused a deadly crash on Highway 401, then received a lenient sentence to avoid deportation.
• A non-citizen arranged to have sex with an underaged girl, and then received a lenient sentence to avoid deportation.
• A non-citizen caused a crash in British Columbia that killed two people. Instead of being deported for this horrible crime, he received a lenient sentence.
• A non-citizen trucker in Ontario, killed a truck driver the opposite way, and severely injured a passenger.

"Judges in Quebec and Ontario are openly calling out the two-tier justice system the Liberals voted to enshrine when they killed the Conservative bill in March that would have fixed this problem. Yet there still is no action from the Liberals.

"Shame on the immigration minister for hiding behind weak talking points and refusing to take accountability for her lack of action. The list of non-citizen criminals convicted of serious crimes in Canada is getting longer every day, and the Liberals are allowing the system to award sweetheart deals to avoid deportation.

"Victims of these crimes are waiting for action. Canadians are waiting for answers. If the minister is unable to act, the Prime Minister should fire her and bring in a minister who will."