Is it time to move to Canada?

In Canadian law, a security certificate is a mechanism by which the Government of Canada can detain and deport foreign nationals and all other non-citizens living in Canada. The federal government may issue a certificate naming a permanent resident or any other non-citizen suspected of violating human rights, of having membership within organized crime, or is perceived to be a threat to national security.[1] Subjects of a certificate are inadmissible to Canada and are subject to a removal order.[2] Where the government has reasonable grounds to believe that the individual named in the certificate is a danger to national security, to the safety of any person or is unlikely to participate in any court proceedings, the individual can be detained.[3] The entire process is subject to a limited form of review by the Federal Court.

Canadian Security Certificates

Currently, Mohammed Zeki Mahjoub is the only person imprisoned in Canada under a security certificate. Adil Charkaoui's security certificate was quashed in October 2009 by the Federal Court and he was released from house arrest. Four others remain imprisoned under house arrest. The conditions of the five persons subject to outstanding certificates are as follows:

Hassan Almrei, a Syrian refugee who has been detained in a Toronto jail since October 2001. He was transferred to the "Kingston Immigration Holding Centre" in April 2006. He has held several prolonged hunger strikes, the longest lasting over 100 days. He was ordered released under house arrest by a Federal Court judge on January 2, 2009.

Mohammad Zeki Mahjoub, an Egyptian detained in Toronto since June 2000, ordered released under house arrest by a Federal Court judge on February 15, 2007.[11] Because Mahjoub and his wife, Mona El Fouli, found that his conditions of house arrest "had humiliated them and deprived their two sons of any semblance of a normal life," he requested to be returned to custody at the Kingston Immigration Holding Centre in March 2009.[12] He has been on hunger strike in protest of his conditions there since June 1, 2009.

Mahmoud Jaballah, an Egyptian detained in Toronto since August 2001, also ordered to be released under house arrest by a Federal Court judge on March 6, 2007.

Mohamed Harkat, an Algerian held in Toronto since December 2002 and released on bail in June 2006. He remains under 24-hour supervision and must wear an electronic monitoring device. He was ordered deported in July 2006 but remains in Canada as court battles continue.

Manickavasagam Suresh, a Sri Lankan, first arrested in 1995 and held till 1998. He was ordered deported, but ongoing court processes have kept him in Canada under conditions.