Charles v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), (2014) 461 F.T.R. 12 (FC)

• Judge: Russell, J.
• Court: Federal Court (Canada)
• Case Date: June 26, 2014
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (2014), 461 F.T.R. 12 (FC);2014 FC 772

Charles v. Can. (M.C.I.) (2014), 461 F.T.R. 12 (FC)

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

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Temp. Cite: [2014] F.T.R. TBEd. AU.016

Jude Nicole Judy Charles (applicant) v. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (respondent)

(IMM-2340-13)

Jude Nicole Judy Charles (applicant) v. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (respondent)

(IMM-2873-13; 2014 FC 772; 2014 CF 772)

Indexed As: Charles v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)

Federal Court

Russell, J.

August 1, 2014.

Summary:

The applicant, a citizen of Grenada, applied for permanent residence from within Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. A senior immigration officer refused the application (initial decision), and subsequently refused the applicant's request for a reconsideration of the initial decision. The applicant applied for judicial review.

The Federal Court allowed the application respecting the initial decision, quashed that decision and referred the matter for reconsideration by a different officer. The reconsideration application was dismissed as moot.

Aliens - Topic 1206

Admission - Immigrants - General - Upon compassionate or humanitarian grounds - The applicant, a citizen of Grenada, came to Canada in 1999 at age 25, after suffering severe domestic abuse - She had three children in Grenada (ages 22, 20 and 15) and a six year old Canadian-born daughter - She initially entered Canada on a visitor's visa and remained here without status until she applied for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds - She provided for her children in Grenada while working in Canada - The children in Grenada were being verbally and physically abused by family members - A senior immigration officer dismissed her application - She applied for judicial review - The Federal Court allowed the application - The court was not convinced that the officer was alert, alive and sensitive to the best interests of the children - Therefore, the decision was unreasonable because no weighing and balancing with other factors could occur without a realistic and adequate assessment of the best interests of the children.

Aliens - Topic 1206

Admission - Immigrants - General - Upon compassionate or humanitarian grounds - The Federal Court (Russell, J.) stated that "The Federal Court of Appeal has recently confirmed that a standard of reasonableness applies when reviewing an officer's decision under s. 25(1) of the Act. This includes the court's review of the officer's interpretation of s. 25 of the Act and the test or legal principles to be applied in making H&C [humanitarian and compassionate] decisions ... However, as I have recently set out in two other cases dealing with s. 25 of the Act ... the range of reasonable outcomes available to the officer is constrained by the established principles set out in the jurisprudence regarding s. 25(1) ... In other words, it will normally be unreasonable to depart from the well-established tests and legal principles set out in the jurisprudence on s. 25(1), though the court must still consider, in light of that case law, whether the decision-maker's approach was reasonable in the circumstances of the case" - See paragraphs 22 and 23.

Aliens - Topic 4062

Practice - Judicial review and appeals - Powers of review of appellate court (incl. standard of review) - [See first Aliens - Topic 1206 ].

Cases Noticed:

Serda et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2006] F.T.R. Uned. 209; 2006 FC 356, refd to. [para. 11].

New Brunswick (Board of Management) v. Dunsmuir, [2008] 1 S.C.R. 190; 372 N.R. 1; 329 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 844 A.P.R. 1; 2008 SCC 9, refd to. [para. 21].

Agraira v. Canada (Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) et al. (2013), 446 N.R. 65; 2013 SCC 36, refd to. [para. 21].

Kanthasamy v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2014), 459 N.R. 367; 2014 FCA 113, refd to. [para. 22].

Lemus et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2014), 461 N.R. 310; 2014 FCA 114, refd to. [para. 22].

Blas et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2014), 457 F.T.R. 182; 2014 FC 629, refd to. [para. 23].

Ainab v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2014), 457 F.T.R. 203; 2014 FC 630, refd to. [para. 23].

Farwaha v. Canada (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities) (2014), 455 N.R. 157; 2014 FCA 56, refd to. [para. 23].

Canadian Human Rights Commission v. Canada (Attorney General) et al. (2013), 444 N.R. 120; 2013 FCA 75, refd to. [para. 23].

Mills v. Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (Ont.) (2008), 237 O.A.C. 71; 2008 ONCA 436, refd to. [para. 23].

Abraham et al. v. Canada (Attorney General) (2012), 440 N.R. 201; 2012 FCA 266, refd to. [para. 23].

Pictou Landing Band Council et al. v. Canada (Attorney General) (2014), 456 N.R. 365; 2014 FCA 21, refd to. [para. 23].

McLean v. British Columbia Securities Commission (2013), 347 B.C.A.C. 1; 593 W.A.C. 1; 452 N.R. 340; 2013 SCC 67, refd to. [para. 23].

Khosa v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2009), 385 N.R. 206; 2009 SCC 12, refd to. [para. 24].

Sun v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2012), 405 F.T.R. 223; 2012 FC 206, refd to. [para. 26].

Williams v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2012] F.T.R. Uned. 79; 2012 FC 166, refd to. [para. 26].

Uo v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2011] F.T.R. Uned. 967; 2011 FC 557, refd to. [para. 27].

Judnarine v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2013), 425 F.T.R. 312; 2013 FC 82, refd to. [para. 27].

Duka et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2010] F.T.R. Uned. 709; 92 Imm. L.R.(3d) 255; 2010 FC 1071, refd to. [para. 27].

Guadeloupe v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2008] F.T.R. Uned. 836; 2008 FC 1190, refd to. [para. 27].

Thomas v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2012] F.T.R. Uned. 766; 2012 FC 1517, refd to. [para. 27].

Beharry et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2011), 383 F.T.R. 157; 2011 FC 110, refd to. [para. 27].

Kolosovs v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2008), 323 F.T.R. 181; 2008 FC 165, refd to. [para. 27].

Alie et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2008] F.T.R. Uned. 648; 2008 FC 925, refd to. [para. 27].

Mangru et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2011), 392 F.T.R. 333; 2011 FC 779, refd to. [para. 27].

Sinniah v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2011] F.T.R. Uned. 794; 2011 FC 1285, refd to. [para. 27].

Sebbe et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2012), 414 F.T.R. 268; 10 Imm. L.R.(4th) 321; 2012 FC 813, refd to. [para. 27].

Walker v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2007] F.T.R. Uned. 423; 2007 FC 600, refd to. [para. 28].

Sepulveda Soto v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2006] F.T.R. Uned. 878; 2006 FC 1524, refd to. [para. 28].

Walker v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2004] F.T.R. Uned. 762; 2004 FC 1309, refd to. [para. 28].

Elenes Gaona at al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2011] F.T.R. Uned. 660; 2011 FC 1083, refd to. [para. 29].

Noh et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2012), 409 F.T.R. 117; 2012 FC 529, refd to. [para. 31].

Naredo v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2000), 187 F.T.R. 47; 192 D.L.R.(4th) 373 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 31].

Swartz v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2002), 218 F.T.R. 23; 2002 FCT 268, refd to. [para. 31].

Yoo v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2009), 343 F.T.R. 253; 2009 FC 343, refd to. [para. 31].

Ramsawak v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2009] F.T.R. Uned. 706; 2009 FC 636, refd to. [para. 31].

Kobita v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2012), 423 F.T.R. 218; 2012 FC 1479, refd to. [para. 32].

Rajanayagam v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2012), 423 F.T.R. 10; 2012 FC 1443, refd to. [para. 36].

Mings-Edwards v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2011] F.T.R. Uned. 50; 2011 FC 90, refd to. [para. 38].

Damte v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2011] F.T.R. Uned. 737; 2011 FC 1212, refd to. [para. 38].

White v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) et al. (2011), 396 F.T.R. 243; 2011 FC 1043, refd to. [para. 39].

Mancheno v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) et al. (2013), 425 F.T.R. 260; 2013 FC 66, refd to. [para. 41].

John v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2012] F.T.R. Uned. 38; 2012 FC 96, refd to. [para. 42].

Legault v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2002] 4 F.C. 358; 288 N.R. 174; 2002 FCA 125, refd to. [para. 42].

Hawthorne v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2003] 2 F.C. 555; 297 N.R. 187; 2002 FCA 475, refd to. [para. 43].

R. v. R.E.M., [2008] 3 S.C.R. 3; 380 N.R. 47; 260 B.C.A.C. 40; 439 W.A.C. 40; 2008 SCC 51, refd to. [para. 43].

Driver Iron Inc. v. International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers, Local Union No. 720 et al. (2012), 437 N.R. 202; 2012 SCC 65, refd to. [para. 43].

Owusu v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2004] 2 F.C. 635; 318 N.R. 300; 2004 FCA 38, refd to. [para. 45].

Kisana v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2009), 392 N.R. 163; 2009 FCA 189, refd to. [para. 50].

Kurukkal v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2010), 406 N.R. 313; 2010 FCA 230, refd to. [para. 51].

Trivedi v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2010] F.T.R. Uned. 277; 2010 FC 422, refd to. [para. 51].

Medina v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2010] F.T.R. Uned. 324; 2010 FC 504, refd to. [para. 53].

Mooker et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2007] F.T.R. Uned. 523; 62 Imm. L.R.(3d) 311; 2007 FC 779, refd to. [para. 54].

Statutes Noticed:

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, S.C. 2001, c. 27, sect. 25(1), sect. 25(1.3) [para. 25].

Counsel:

Sayran Sulevani, for the applicant;

Christopher Ezrin, for the respondent.

Solicitors of Record:

Sayran Sulevani, Toronto, Ontario, for the applicant;

William F. Pentney, Deputy Attorney General of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, for the respondent.

This application was heard in Toronto, Ontario, on June 26, 2014, before Russell, J., of the Federal Court, who delivered the following decision in Ottawa, Ontario, on August 1, 2014.