The dictionary at the front of the law. Words like "foreign national", "permanent resident" and "designated foreign national" mean exactly what this section says and nothing else, so a whole case can turn on a definition here. It also confirms that when the Act says "this Act", it includes the regulations and the Minister's instructions.
(1)The definitions in this subsection apply in this Act. Board means the Immigration and Refugee Board, which consists of the Refugee Protection Division, Refugee Appeal Division, Immigration Division and Immigration Appeal Division. (Commission) Convention Against Torture means the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, signed at New York on December 10, 1984. Article 1 of the Convention Against Torture is set out in the schedule. (Convention contre la torture) designated foreign national has the meaning assigned by subsection 20.1(2). (étranger désigné) foreign national means a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, and includes a stateless person. (étranger) permanent resident means a person who has acquired permanent resident status and has not subsequently lost that status under section 46. (résident permanent) prescribed means prescribed by regulation. (Version anglaise seulement) Refugee Convention means the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, signed at Geneva on July 28, 1951, and the Protocol to that Convention, signed at New York on January 31, 1967. Sections E and F of Article 1 of the Refugee Convention are set out in the schedule. (Convention sur les réfugiés)
(2)Unless otherwise indicated, references in this Act to “this Act” include regulations made under it and instructions given under subsection 14.1(1).