2021 FC, 2021 FC 1348
Opinion
Date: 20211203 Docket: IMM-6362-21 Citation: 2021 FC 1348 Ottawa, Ontario, December 3, 2021 PRESENT: The Honourable Mr. Justice Bell BETWEEN:RISARDS PUKITISApplicantandTHE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATIONRespondent ORDER AND REASONS UPON CONSIDERING THAT the Applicant is a citizen of Latvia who came to Canada in 1996 where he obtained refugee protectionin August, 1998.
That after obtaining refugee protection in Canada, the Applicant returned to Latvia using his Latvian passport, obtaineda legal change of name from Latvian authorities, made repeated trips back to Latvia, used his Latvian passport to travel to numerous othercountries, including back to Canada as a Latvian visitor with a different name, and thereby voluntarily re-availed himself of Latvia’sprotection; and, UPON CONSIDERING THAT the Refugee Division concluded that the Applicant re-availed himself of Latvia’s protection to avoidcriminal charges in Canada, to obtain inheritance, to visit family and to renew his Latvian passport; and, UPON CONSIDERING THAT the Respondent successfully made an application for cessation of the Applicant’s status as a protectedperson in Canada in September, 2019; and, UPON CONSIDERING THAT that the Applicant made an application for permanent residence in Canada based upon humanitarianand compassionate grounds pursuant to s. 25(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c 27 ["“IRPA”"] in November,2020, which application was refused in August, 2021 and from which the Applicant seeks judicial review; and, UPON CONSIDERING THAT on or about November 4, 2021 the Applicant was directed to report at the Lester B.
Pearson Airport,Terminal 1, Level 3, Departures for removal from Canada scheduled for December 8, 2021 and now seeks a stay of that removal order; In order to be successful on the within application, the Applicant must meet each element of the three-part test set out in Toth v. Canada(Minister of Employment and Immigration), (FCA), [1988] F.C.J. No. 587, 86 N.R. 302 (FCA) ["“Toth”"] and RJR- MacDonald Inc. v.
Canada (Attorney General), (SCC), [1994] 1 S.C.R. 311, 111 D.L.R. (4th) 385 ["“RJR-MacDonald”"], namely that: a. there is a serious issue to be determined; b. the Applicant will suffer irreparable harm if the stay is not granted; and, c. the balance of convenience favours the granting of the stay. The Respondent concedes a serious issue is to be determined by the Court on the underlying application for judicial review. I am of the view, however, that neither of the two (2) remaining requirements of the tripartite test in Toth have been met.
With respect tothe issue of irreparable harm, the Applicant contends that he has one son born of a union in Canada and that irreparable harm will resultif he (the Applicant) is removed to Latvia. The Applicant acknowledges that the child’s mother has been married twice to persons otherthan the Applicant. The child has lived without any significant influence from the Applicant. The Applicant returned to Latvia as recentlyas 2019. There is no shared custody agreement between the mother of the child and the Applicant. The Applicant provides no receipts ofany contribution to the care and support of the child.
The Applicant provides no evidence from the mother attesting to his support andcare of the child. The Applicant has not established that he will suffer any irreparable harm by his removal to Latvia (see, RJR-MacDonald, supra, at para. 58). The Applicant has not shown that he will suffer any harm greater than the inherent consequences ofdeportation (see, Melo v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), (FC), 188 F.T.R. 39 at para. 21). With respect to the balance of convenience, this prong of the test favours the Respondent.
Section 48 of IRPA provides that a removalorder must be enforced as soon as possible. This factor favours the Respondent. The Applicant has been found guilty of violations of thethe Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46 since his arrival in Canada. This factor favours the Respondent. An administrative tribunal withauthority to so decide has concluded the Applicant obtained a change of name to avoid criminal prosecution in Canada. This factorfavours the Respondent. I am satisfied the Applicant comes to the Court with unclean hands.
Equity should not reward those who takeadvantage of Canada’s generous immigration system. (see: Patterson v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2008 FC 406 at para 23;Zheng v. Canada (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship), 2021 FC 616 at para 20) The balance of convenience favours the enforcement of the removal order (see Ibrahima v. Canada (Public Safety and EmergencyPreparedness, 2011 FC 607, 390 F.T.R. 142).
ORDER in IMM-6362-21 THIS COURT ORDERS that the motion for a stay of execution of the removal order is dismissed. “B. Richard Bell” Judge FEDERAL COURT SOLICITORS OF RECORD DOCKET: IMM-6362-21 STYLE OF CAUSE: RISARDS PUKITIS v THE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION PLACE OF HEARING: Toronto, Ontario DATE OF HEARING: November 30, 2021 REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER: BELL J. DATED: December 3, 2021 APPEARANCES : Valeriy Kozyrev For The Applicant Neeta Logsetty For The Respondent SOLICITORS OF RECORD : Kozyrev Law Office For The Applicant Attorney General of Canada Toronto, Ontario For The Respondent
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