Pardoned terror suspect has immigration Minister reviewing Canada’s deportation rules

OTTAWA, Ont. – The latest twist in an alleged terrorism plot involving a Via Rail train has Immigration Minister Jason Kenney reviewing Canada’s deportation rules.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that one of the two suspects, Raed Jaser, was supposed to be deported in 2004 but managed to stay in Canada because he is considered a “stateless Palestinian”. Authorities couldn’t deport him because he had no home country, and he received a pardon.

Jaser initially tried to become a Canadian citizen in 1993 but wasn’t allowed due to past criminal convictions.

The news upsets Kenney, who has ordered a review of the rules to make sure this does not happen with other convicted criminals in the future.

“I absolutely was disturbed to learn that a foreigner can get a pardon for serious criminal offences and then be allowed to stay in Canada,” he told reporters, Friday. “I don’t care if you get a pardon or not. If you commit a serious criminal offence in Canada, you should be kicked out – period.”

“I cannot tolerate that serious criminals would be allowed to stay in Canada in perpetuity.”

Should policy changes be needed, Kenney says he plans to fix any gaps in the law.

Jaser, who is from Toronto, and Chiheb Esseghaier, from Montreal, face terrorism-related charges in what the RCMP says was a plot guided by Al-Qaida in Iran.

Their next court appearances are set for May 23.

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