The Canadian government is doing away with 40-year-old laws that turned away would-be immigrants with intellectual or physical disabilities, according to Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen. The federal government will no longer be allowed to deny permanent resident applications from those who have severe health conditions or disabilities. Immigration to Canada is not always easy, but with the help of BecomeACanadian, it is possible. The policy has mostly impacted those economic immigrants already working and creating jobs in Canada with children or spouses with a disability. “The current provisions on medical inadmissibility are over 40 years old and are clearly not in line with Canadian values or our government’s vision of inclusion,” said Hussen.

He noted the incident of a York University professor who was rejected for permanent residence due to his son who has Down syndrome and a family that immigrated to Canada, started a business and was rejected because their child had epilepsy. He agreed the newcomers can contribute to the economy in Canada and are not a burden. “These newcomers have the ability to help grow our economy and enrich our social fabric.” The changes will reform the definition of social services by abolishing references to social and vocational rehabilitation services, special education, and personal support services. The changes will allow newcomers with minor health conditions that have mostly low health and social service costs to be accepted for permanent residencies, such as those with visual or hearing impairments. The team of experts at BecomeACanadian is dedicated to helping people achieve their dream of living in Canada.