Admit Zain Haq to Canada
Petitioners ask the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to admit Zain Haq to Canada to reunite him with his Canadian spouse, Sophia Papp. The government responds that IRCC assesses applications individually under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, cannot disclose client personal information without consent, and that removals are the responsibility of the CBSA.
Why we would sign this petition
- Reunits a Canadian citizen with her spouse, ending a prolonged family separation and restoring household stability.
- Addresses petitioners’ claim of an unjust consequence from a summary, nonviolent conviction by seeking a case-specific remedy.
- Affirms that peaceful climate activism should not automatically bar admission, supporting civic engagement rights for nonviolent protestors.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Admitting him could be seen as overriding immigration consequences tied to a conviction, complicating the consistent enforcement of immigration laws.
- Granting relief in one case may create precedent and encourage similar requests, making consistent, fair application more difficult.
- Immigration and removal processes, plus privacy constraints, are handled case-by-case by IRCC and the CBSA, so a petition cannot replace formal assessments and 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 Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sophia Papp, a Canadian citizen, was separated from her spouse, Zain Haq, by his deportation for nonviolent climate activism; Zain was a respected member of his Vancouver community and a vocal advocate for peaceful civic engagement; Zain’s actions were consistent with those of elected Canadian officials and leaders such as the Hon. Steven Guilbeault; the Hon. Bob Rae; Elizabeth May, M.P., OC; and Dr. Kennedy Stewart; who were not similarly punished for their civil disobedience; Zain’s convictions were summary and nonviolent; The Hon. Marc Miller, acknowledged the merit of Zain’s case during his time as Minister; Young Canadians are worried about the impacts of climate change and are looking for climate leadership from their government - not oppression of those who demonstrate it; and This government must reject policies that mirror the unethical family separations seen south of our border. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to reunite Canadian citizen Sophia Papp with her spouse, Zain Haq, through his admission into Canada.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Signed by Peter Fragiskatos Due to the Privacy Act of Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is not able to disclose any personal information about clients or their applications without their written consent. Any individual is able to submit an application to IRCC and the Department assesses that application against the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. Each application is assessed individually based on the information provided. The removal of foreign nationals from Canada falls under the sole responsibility of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), regardless of the type of inadmissibility or offence involved. While IRCC is responsible for processing Pre Removal Risk Assessments (PRRAs) and danger opinions, this work is in support of the broader removals process. For information related to removal volumes, operational processes, or any concerns regarding deportations, stakeholders should consult directly with the CBSA.