December 15, 2003

Mark calls on Minister to grant grace period for implementation of Permanent Resident Card

( Ottawa )  Inky Mark, Conservative critic for Citizenship and Immigration has called on the new Minister to offer a grace period for those permanent residents who have not yet obtained a permanent resident card (PRC). 

Mark explained, “The Department of Citizenship and Immigration has stated that most landed immigrants will be required to carry permanent resident cards to re-enter Canada as of Dec. 31.  However, landed immigrants who travel on passports from visa-exempt countries will not need the new permanent resident card to re-enter Canada .”

“The catch is that while not all landed immigrants will technically need to have Permanent Resident Cards, it is up to the discretion of the airlines to allow those without PRC’s to board flights destined for Canada .”

Immigration officials have confirmed that airlines, shipping lines, trains and buses may bar those landed immigrants travelling on passports from visa-exempt countries from boarding even though the regulations specifically exempt them from needing the PRC.

“Many immigrants have had no warning that they require this documentation to travel.  There was little advertising done to ensure that those who needed it were aware of the requirement.  Will the new Minister grant a grace period for the implementation of these regulations? Canada must guarantee that these potential Canadians can return safely to their homes during this holiday season,” Mark concluded.