Review application of section 34(1)(f)
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to review application of section 34(1)(f) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to members of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and ensure fair, case-by-case treatment. The government responds that inadmissibility is assessed case-by-case under s.34, with possible ministerial relief under s.42.1 and responsibility resting with Public Safety.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would prompt individualized review of persons flagged under s.34(1)(f), which could correct mistaken or overly broad security findings against members of a political party.
- A formal review could ensure consistent standards and procedural fairness across similar cases.
- It aligns immigration practice with respect for democratic participation when evidence does not show involvement in prohibited activities.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Security-based inadmissibility exists to protect public safety; reviewing application could risk relaxing safeguards against espionage, terrorism or subversion.
- The government already assesses inadmissibility case-by-case and offers ministerial relief under s.42.1, so a separate review may be redundant.
- A new review process could divert resources, slow decisions and complicate existing procedures.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Whereas: The petitioners draw the attention of the House to the situation of members of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, a recognized political party in Bangladesh. The petitioners note that some members have been found inadmissible to Canada under section 34(1)(f) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, relating to security-based inadmissibility. The petitioners point out that the Bangladesh Jammat-e-Islami has engaged in democratic processes and governance in Bangladesh, and that its members, including those seeking asylum in Canada, are law-abiding citizens who uphold democratic values. We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: Review the application of section 34(1)(f) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act as it relates to members of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, in order to ensure fair and just treatment.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Signed by Peter Fragiskatos Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada screens all applications for inadmissibility in order to maintain the security of Canadian society. Immigration officers review all applications on a case-by-case basis, considering the specific facts presented by the applicant. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, a foreign national can be found inadmissible for security reasons, including espionage; subversion; terrorism; or membership in an organization for which there are reasonable grounds to believe engages, has engaged or will engage in any of these activities. A foreign national who has been found inadmissible to Canada under section 34 (security) can apply for a declaration of relief—commonly referred to as "Ministerial relief" pursuant to subsection 42.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and related regulations. The Minister of Public Safety may, upon review of the Ministerial relief application and the Canada Border Services Agency’s recommendation, declare that the matters referred to in the above-noted provision of Immigration and Refugee Protection Act do not constitute inadmissibility if the applicant satisfies the Minister that, in their case, relief is not contrary to the national interest. Please note that section s.34 and s.42.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is the policy responsibility of my colleague, the Minister of Public Safety, as per subsection 4(2) of the Act.