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Antonio v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2000 CanLII 15832 (FC)

Date:
2000-07-18
File number:
IMM-217-00
Citation:
Antonio v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2000 CanLII 15832 (FC), <https://canlii.ca/t/43nn>, retrieved on 2023-08-17

                    



Date: 20000718


Docket: IMM-217-00



BETWEEN:


ZENAIDA BLENZA ANTONIO, And minors DONNA KRYSTAL

ANTONIO and SHERYL NICOLE ANTONIO (Through their Litigation Guardian ZENAIDA BLENZA ANTONIO)

     Applicants



     - and -




     THE MINISTER OF

     CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

     Respondent



     REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER

CAMPBELL J.


[1]      In reaching a negative decision on the Applicant"s application for humanitarian and compassionate relief under s.114(2) of the Immigration Act in the present case, I am satisfied that the immigration officer made a fundamental error of fact which warrants a re-determination.

[2]      In his decision, the immigration officer says this:

Ms. Antonio has not sufficiently established herself in Canada. She has stated that she has been employed as a cleaning lady since August 1998, yet this appears unsubstantiated and is even contradicted by her statements at the interview. Prior to her present employment, she had been unemployed for the previous eight years. In her application, she stated "she was on social assistance for 2-3 months in 1993". This statement was refuted by Metro Community Services that states her family received assistance from 01 February 1992 until 31 January 1996. This information not only highlights the applicants reliance on the government for support, but lends doubt to the credibility of other statements she has made.

[3]      I am satisfied that the record contains inadequate evidence upon which to base the very important negative credibility finding made, and, thus, the finding is made in reviewable error.

[4]      At the time of scheduling the Applicant"s personal interview, the immigration officer provided an opportunity to the Applicant"s counsel to be present. However, because the opportunity was extended on extremely short notice, and, therefore, counsel could not attend on the few hearing date options supplied, the Applicant could not take advantage of this opportunity. I find that, in this case, on these facts, to ensure that no misunderstanding of the Applicant"s evidence can arise, counsel must be present at her interview.

    

     ORDER

[5]      Accordingly, I hereby set aside the decision herein and refer this matter to a different immigration officer for re-determination. With respect to the re-determination, I direct that, if it is the Applicant"s wish, she be represented by counsel during her interview as part of the re-determination process.

[6]      Counsel for the Respondent argues that my direction constitutes a finding of law that Applicants for humanitarian and compassionate relief have a right to be represented by counsel in personal interviews if granted, and, therefore, asks that a question be certified on this issue. I decline this request because my direction has importance only on the facts of this case.

[7]      I make no order as to costs.


                                 "Douglas R. Campbell"

     J.F.C.C.

Toronto, Ontario

July 18, 2000





     FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

     Names of Counsel and Solicitors of Record

COURT NO:                  IMM-217-00
STYLE OF CAUSE:             ZENAIDA BLENZA ANTONIO, And minors DONNA KRYSTAL ANTONIO and SHERYL NICOLE ANTONIO (Through their Litigation Guardian ZENAIDA BLENZA ANTONIO)

                     - and -

                     THE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION
DATE OF HEARING:          MONDAY, JULY 17, 2000
PLACE OF HEARING:          TORONTO, ONTARIO

REASONS FOR ORDER

AND ORDER BY:             CAMPBELL J.

                       

DATED:                  TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2000



APPEARANCES BY:           Mr. Roger Rowe

                       

                                  For the Applicants
                       
                     Mr. David Tyndale

                    

                                 For the Respondent
SOLICITORS OF RECORD:      Roger Rowe

                     Barrister & Solicitor

                     1183 Finch Avenue West

                     Suite 405

                     North York, Ontario

                     M3J 2G2

                                 For the Applicants

                     Morris Rosenberg

                     Deputy Attorney General of Canada

                                 For the Respondent

                     FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA


                                 Date: 20000718

                       

         Docket: IMM-217-00


                     BETWEEN:


                     ZENAIDA BLENZA ANTONIO, And minors

                     DONNA KRYSTAL ANTONIO and SHERYL

                     NICOLE ANTONIO (Through their Litigation

                     Guardian ZENAIDA BLENZA ANTONIO)


Applicants



                     - and -




                     THE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP

                     AND IMMIGRATION


Respondent






                    


                     REASONS FOR ORDER

                     AND ORDER