The Government forgave over 17,500 foreign criminal convictions, sparking a debate over transparency

Federal data reveals that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has granted rehabilitation status to more than 17,500 foreigners with criminal convictions over the past 11 years, allowing them entry into Canada. While the IRCC states that ministerial approval is required for serious offences, critics, including Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner, have called for greater transparency regarding the nature of convictions that are forgiven. Immigration lawyer Richard Kurland warns that while rehabilitation is justified in many cases, convictions involving violence deserve heightened scrutiny to protect Canadians.

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