WUNRN
CANADA - IMMIGRANT GUIDE NOTES
POLICIES AGAINST MARRIAGE FRAUD, POLYGAMY, & TRAFFICKING +
The federal government will unveil today a new guide for immigrants just arriving in Canada that emphasizes the country’s relationship with the Queen of England, the role of the Canadian Forces and the marriage customs that newcomers should consider forbidden.
More than double the length of its predecessor, the 146-page Welcome to Canada booklet produced by Citizenship and Immigration Canada is chock full of colour photos and personal testimonies, unlike the previous incarnation introduced in 2007.
Postmedia News obtained an advance copy of the document that will be made available to newcomers online and through settlement service providers who often greet immigrants at the airport when they arrive. It will also be available online to download and as an eBook.
It includes, for the first time, references to marriage fraud and human smuggling — two areas in which the federal government has launched a crack down in recent years.
“It is a crime to marry Canadian citizens or permanent residents only to gain entry into Canada,” the book states. “Canadian citizens or permanent residents found to be part of a marriage of convenience for immigration purposes may be charged with a crime.”
A section devoted entirely to “human trafficking” describes it as a “terrible crime” that often involves women and children being exploited for sex, and urges newcomers to report suspected incidents to the police.
Like the Discover Canada guide released in 2011 for those studying to pass their Canadian Citizenship test, the guide for newcomers contains strong language condemning “barbaric cultural practices” like spousal abuse, honour killings, female genital mutilation and forced marriage.
A section on family law also explains that “there are laws against being married to more than one person at a time” and “you cannot come to Canada with more than one spouse even if you were married to more than one person in the past.” While the previous booklet referenced polygamy, this one uses much more basic language to explain the outlawed practice that surged to prominence in 2011 when the B.C. Supreme Court upheld Canada’s polygamy laws
Unlike its predecessor — which contained no references to Canada as a constitutional monarchy — this one contains an entire section on Canada’s royal connection, complete with photos of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It’s not the first time the Conservatives have sought to give more prominence to Canada’s head of state. The government previously stirred controversy by ordering embassies to display the Queen’s portrait and including the words “Royal” and “Her Majesty’s” in military references.
The guide also has a new section on the Canadian Forces that notes Canada’s role during the First and Second World Wars and encourages newcomers to learn more about Canada’s military history. It also explains that immigrants can serve part-time in local navy, army or air force reserves as well as in the Coast Guard or as police officers or firefighters. The section features a photo of Lt-Col. Harjit Sajjan, the first Sikh to command a Canadian army regiment.