Injured worker faces deportation

11 posts / 0 new

Tue, 2009-01-13 08:58

Agent 204

Quote:
When Manitoba's booming trucking industry needed long-haul drivers,
British-born Chris Mason answered the call. Now, after injuries have
left him crippled and unable to work, he's been told he's an economic
burden and will be deported.

"I feel like I've been sentenced to death..." said Mason, who found work as a truck driver in Canada in 2001.

After the wear and tear of that job damaged his lower back and left
him unable to walk, modifications were made to the rig and he went back
to work as a driver, then later as a dispatcher.

Two years later, he was struck by a wheelchair taxi at a crosswalk near the Health Sciences Centre.

On Friday, Mason, 35, was informed he will be removed from Canada
today to his native Britain where he hasn't lived since he was eight
years old. At that time, his parents split up and he moved to Greece to
live with his dad.

From the Winnipeg Free Press.

Tue, 2009-01-13 09:24

Maysie

People in far worse situations are deported from Canada every day, to face intimidation, arrest and violence in their countries of origin. Canadian society doesn't give a shit until it's a white guy from England?

Tue, 2009-01-13 13:24

old_bolshie

He never obtained Canadian citizenship even after living here/enjoying all the benefits of the country for years and years, looks like he just didn't bother to keep up with the paperwork.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/told_hes_not_fit_enough_to...

Tue, 2009-01-13 16:23

Fidel

It's too bad the feds didnt feel the same way when Britain and Europe shipped us a number of WW II era criminals and more dregs of the earth after that.

Frank Dixon: I'm talking about bombs. I'm talking about human dignity. I'm talking about human rights. Viktor, please don't be afraid to tell me that you're afraid of Krakhozia.
Viktor Navorski: Is home. I am not afraid from my home

Wed, 2009-01-14 08:40

Agent 204

Maysie wrote:

People in far worse situations are deported from Canada every day, to face intimidation, arrest and violence in their countries of origin. Canadian society doesn't give a shit until it's a white guy from England?

Fair comment, but does that mean this guy should be deported?

Wed, 2009-01-14 09:19

Snert

He had the opportunity to become a permanent resident, and elected not to, didn't he?

Quote:
Fair comment, but does that mean this guy should be deported?

If I don't renew my driver's licence, [i]should[/i] it expire?

If I don't fill out a change of address card, [i]should[/i] Canada Post keep sending my mail to my old address?

If don't apply for a job, [i]should[/i] I get passed over for it?

I think that "should" suggests some great cosmic plan or something.

Wed, 2009-01-14 09:33

genstrike

Snert wrote:

He had the opportunity to become a permanent resident, and elected not to, didn't he?

It looks like he tried, but screwed up the paperwork.

Wed, 2009-01-14 16:15

Maysie

Agent 204 wrote:
Fair comment, but does that mean this guy should be deported?

I read your use of the word "should" as in "Is it right to deport him?" or "Does he deserve to be deported?"

From a legal POV, I have no idea if he should be deported. The linked article has no background info that I could see. This case would be something for an immigration lawyer to take up, methinks.

My personal thoughts and feelings are that it would be immoral and unkind to deport this man. From what I've heard of Immigration Canada, however, morality and kindness are not their specialties. It's just usually aimed at black and brown folks whose stories aren't considered newsworthy.

The comments on the WFP site demonstrate that pretty clearly.

Wed, 2009-01-14 18:30

Fidel

"If I go home, I go to jail for 7 years."

"As long as I keep my floor clean, keep my head down, they have no reason to deport me, they have no reason to notice a man like me." -- Gupta Rajan, The Terminal

On the bright side, Mason will likely receive pretty good health care under the UK's NHS. He'll have to start a new life all over again though. So weird.

Wed, 2009-01-14 18:46

#10

Agent 204

Maysie wrote:
My personal thoughts and feelings are that it would be immoral and unkind to deport this man. From what I've heard of Immigration Canada, however, morality and kindness are not their specialties. It's just usually aimed at black and brown folks whose stories aren't considered newsworthy.

That's exactly what I thought. I'd missed the bit about the paperwork, mind you (that's what I get for posting early in the morning before I've consumed enough coffee) so perhaps he doesn't have a good case.

Thu, 2009-01-15 15:17

#11

triciamarie

Quote:
...Mason, who found work as a truck driver in Canada in 2001.

After the wear and tear of that job damaged his lower back and left
him unable to walk, modifications were made to the rig and he went back
to work as a driver, then later as a dispatcher

Probably neither here nor there but it is highly unlikely that a few years of driving truck would cause a disabling degree of "wear and tear" ; unless there was a specific accident, the job if anything may have exacerbated a condition he already had when he started work in 2001. So for a work injury to have been recognized and, from the sounds of it, an extended period of modified work provided, is more than most injured workers would receive in the circumstances.