Y.S. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), (2014) 452 F.T.R. 144 (FC)

• Judge: Russell, J.
• Court: Federal Court (Canada)
• Case Date: December 04, 2013
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (2014), 452 F.T.R. 144 (FC);2014 FC 324

Y.S. v. Can. (M.C.I.) (2014), 452 F.T.R. 144 (FC)

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

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

.........................

Temp. Cite: [2014] F.T.R. TBEd. AP.022

Y. [...] S. [...] (applicant) v. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (respondent)

(IMM-28-13; 2014 FC 324; 2014 CF 324)

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

Federal Court

Russell, J.

April 3, 2014.

Summary:

The applicant applied for judicial review of a decision of the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board which refused the applicant's application to be deemed a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection under ss. 96 and 97 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The Federal Court allowed the application.

Editor's Note: Certain names in the following case have been initialized or the case otherwise edited to prevent the disclosure of identities where required by law, publication ban, Maritime Law Book's editorial policy or otherwise.

Aliens - Topic 1322

Admission - Refugee protection, Convention refugees and persons in need of protection - Grounds - Well-founded fear of persecution - The applicant was a citizen of Sri Lanka of Tamil ethnicity and Hindu religious background and belief - He fled Sri Lanka due to his alleged fear of persecution and death at the hands of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA), the Central Intelligence Department (CID) and a paramilitary group, the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) for being a suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) - The applicant recounted several violent encounters with the SLA occurring over a 10 year period - The Applicant boarded the MV Sun Sea on April 20, 2010 and arrived in Canada on August 13, 2010 - He made a claim for refugee protection based on a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, political opinion and membership in a particular social group - The Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board determined that the applicant was not a Convention refugee or person in need of protection under ss. 96 and 97 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act - The applicant applied for judicial review - The Federal Court allowed the application - Notwithstanding the credibility issue regarding the applicant's problems with the authorities before he left Sri Lanka, and his own evidence that he had no past association with the LTTE, there was no doubt that he was a young Tamil male who arrived in Canada on the MV Sun Sea - The applicant would be detained and interrogated upon his return because of his association with the MV Sun Sea - Although the Board concluded that Tamils, as well as others, "may be victims of abuse of power from Sri Lankan police or CID," the Board shied away from a consideration of what would happen to the applicant when he was interrogated in the face of evidence that Sri Lankan authorities were very interested in links between the MV Sun Sea passengers and the LTTE, and evidence from Amnesty International that individuals who were "suspecting of belonging to, or having links to the LTTE faced a real risk of torture or other ill-treatment if forcibly returned to Sri Lanka" - These risks existed not just for those who did have links, but for those suspected of having links - The Board appeared to assume that the applicant might not even be identified as a passenger on the MV Sun Sea (which he would) and that, even if he was, he would not be treated "any different than any other returnee ... given his complete lack of past association with the LTTE." - The evidence did not support these findings - The decision was unreasonable.

Aliens - Topic 1331

Admission - Refugee protection, Convention refugees and persons in need of protection - Evidence - [See Aliens - Topic 1322 ].

Cases Noticed:

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. 26].

Agraira v. Canada (Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) et al., [2013] 2 S.C.R. 559; 446 N.R. 65; 2013 SCC 36, refd to. [para. 26].

Ruszo v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2013), 440 F.T.R. 106; 2013 FC 1004, refd to. [para. 27].

Buri v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2014), 446 F.T.R. 57; 2014 FC 45, refd to. [para. 27].

Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. A068 (2013), 443 F.T.R. 46; 2013 FC 1119, refd to. [para. 27].

Aguebor v. Ministre de l'Emploi et de l'Immigration (1993), 160 N.R. 315 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

Elmi et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2008] F.T.R. Uned. 557; 2008 FC 773, refd to. [para. 28].

Zacarias v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2012), 419 F.T.R. 135; 2012 FC 1155, refd to. [para. 28].

B198 v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2013), 441 F.T.R. 259; 2013 FC 1106, refd to. [para. 30].

Ganeshan v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2013] F.T.R. Uned. 388; 2013 FC 841, refd to. [para. 30].

Navarro et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2011), 392 F.T.R. 239; 2011 FC 768, refd to. [para. 31].

Vasquez v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2011] F.T.R. Uned. 274; 2011 FC 477, refd to. [para. 31].

Innocent v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2009), 364 F.T.R. 17; 2009 FC 1019, refd to. [para. 31].

Khosa v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2009] 1 S.C.R. 339; 385 N.R. 206; 2009 SCC 12, refd to. [para. 32].

Chan v. Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1995] 3 S.C.R. 593; 187 N.R. 321, refd to. [para. 34].

Ponniah v. Minister of Employment and Immigration (1991), 132 N.R. 32; 13 Imm. L.R.(2d) 241 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 34].

Salibian v. Ministre de l'Emploi et de l'Immigration, [1990] 3 F.C. 250; 113 N.R. 123 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

Kang v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2005] F.T.R. Uned. 702; 2005 FC 1128, refd to. [para. 35].

Fi v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2006] F.T.R. Uned. 655; [2007] 3 F.C.R. 400; 2006 FC 1125, refd to. [para. 35].

Rayappu v Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2012), IMM-8712-11 (F.C.), refd to. [para. 35].

Sinnathamby v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2013), IMM-3828-12 (F.C.), refd to. [para. 35].

Armson v. Minister of Employment and Immigration (1989), 101 N.R. 372; 9 Imm. L.R.(2d) 150 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

Hilo v. Minister of Employment and Immigration (1992), 130 N.R. 236; 15 Imm. L.R.(2d) 199 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

Rahman v. Canada (Minister of Employment & Immigration (1989), 8 Imm. L.R.(2d) 170, refd to. [para. 36].

Bains v. Minister of Employment and Immigration (1993), 63 F.T.R. 312; 20 Imm. L.R.(2d) 296 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

Vodics v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2005), 276 F.T.R. 95; 2005 FC 783, refd to. [para. 36].

Dong v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2008] F.T.R. Uned. 804; 2008 F.C. 115, refd to. [para. 36].

Ahortor v. Minister of Employment and Immigration (1993), 65 F.T.R. 137 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

Poshteh v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2005] F.T.R. Uned. 627; 2005 FC 1034, refd to. [para. 36].

Osman v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2008] F.T.R. Uned. 659; 2008 FC 921, refd to. [para. 36].

Taha v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2004] F.T.R. Uned. A39; 2004 FC 1675, refd to. [para. 36].

Liang v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2001] F.T.R. Uned. 206; 2001 FCT 341, refd to. [para. 36].

Zheng v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2007] F.T.R. Uned. 875; 2007 FC 1274, refd to. [para. 36].

Cortes v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2011), 386 F.T.R. 133; 2011 F.C. 329, refd to. [para. 36].

Attakora v. Minister of Employment and Immigration (1989), 99 N.R. 168 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

Moute v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2005] F.T.R. Uned. 361; 2005 FC 579, refd to. [para. 37].

Khan v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2006] F.T.R. Uned. 841; 2006 FC 1490, refd to. [para. 37].

Giron v. Minister of Employment and Immigration (1992), 143 N.R. 238 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 38].

Leung v. Minister of Employment and Immigration (1994), 81 F.T.R. 303 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 38].

Valtchev v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2001), 208 F.T.R. 267; 2001 FCT 776, refd to. [para. 38].

Yin v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2010] F.T.R. Uned. 516; 2010 FC 544, refd to. [para. 38].

Aguirre et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2008] F.T.R. Uned. 406; 2008 FC 571, refd to. [para. 39].

Wu v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2010] F.T.R. Uned. 752; 2010 FC 1102, refd to. [para. 39].

Toth et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2002] F.T.R. Uned. 740; 2002 FCT 1133, refd to. [para. 40].

Sivabalaretnam v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (1999), 86 A.C.W.S.(3d) 580; 1999 CanLII 7598 (F.C.), refd to. [para. 40].

Bohorquez v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2011] F.T.R. Uned. 478; 2011 FC 808, refd to. [para. 40].

Bibby-Jacobs v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2012), 419 F.T.R. 304; 2012 FC 1176, refd to. [para. 40].

Orgona v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2001] F.T.R. Uned. 222; 2001 FCT 346, refd to. [para. 40].

Cepeda-Gutierrez et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (1998), 157 F.T.R. 35; 1998 CanLII 8667 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 40].

Toriz Gilvaja v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2009] F.T.R. Uned. 391; 2009 FC 598, refd to. [para. 40].

Campos Quevedo v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2011] F.T.R. Uned. 181; 2011 FC 297, refd to. [para. 40].

Packinathan v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2010] F.T.R. Uned. 547; 2010 FC 834, refd to. [para. 40].

Goman v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2012] F.T.R. Uned. 38; 2012 FC 643, refd to. [para. 40].

Ismaylov et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2002] F.T.R. Uned. 18; 2002 FCT 30, refd to. [para. 46].

Clermont v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2010] F.T.R. Uned. 553; 2010 FC 848, refd to. [para. 46].

Dezameau et al. v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2010), 369 F.T.R. 151; 2010 FC 559, refd to. [para. 46].

Josile v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2011), 382 F.T.R. 188; 2011 FC 39, refd to. [para. 46].

Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses' Union v. Newfoundland and Labrador (Treasury Board) et al., [2011] 3 S.C.R. 708; 424 N.R. 220; 317 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 340; 986 A.P.R. 340; 2011 SCC 62, refd to. [para. 50].

Brar v. Minister of Employment and Immigration (1985), 60 N.R. 344 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 53].

Ye v. Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1994] FCJ No. 1233 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 53].

Bhandal v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, [2000] 98 A.C.W.S.(3d) 1085 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 53].

Sekeramayi v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), [2008] F.T.R. Uned. 619; 2008 FC 845, refd to. [para. 56].

Paramsothy v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2012), 417 F.T.R. 61; 2012 FC 1000, refd to. [para. 56].

Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. B380 (2012), 421 F.T.R. 138; 2012 FC 1334, refd to. [para. 64].

Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. B420, [2013] F.T.R. Uned. 152; 2013 FC 321, refd to. [para. 64].

Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. A032, [2013] F.T.R. Uned. 153; 2013 FC 322, refd to. [para. 68].

Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v. B377 (2013), 430 F.T.R. 54; 2013 FC 320, refd to. [para. 68].

Counsel:

Jack Davis, for the applicant;

Jocelyn Espejo Clarke, for the respondent.

Solicitors of Record:

Davis & Grice, Toronto, Ontario, for the applicant;

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

This application was heard at Toronto, Ontario, on December 4, 2013, by Russell, J., of the Federal Court, who delivered the following judgment at Ottawa, Ontario, on April 3, 2014.