TCE Brief: In an effort to end what they call “two-tier justice,” Conservatives are proposing a change to the Criminal Code to prevent immigration status from being considered during sentencing.
But legal and immigration experts say the move is based on a false premise, arguing that a person’s immigration status is just one of many factors judges consider to ensure a proportional sentence.
The Conservatives argue that this consideration allows non-citizens to receive lighter sentences than Canadians who have committed the same crime, while experts contend it prevents non-citizens from facing disproportionately harsh consequences.