A foreign national is inadmissible if a family member is inadmissible. This "accompanying family members" rule means one family member's problems can bar the entire family.
(1)A foreign national, other than a protected person, is inadmissible on grounds of an inadmissible family member if(a) their accompanying family member or, in prescribed circumstances, their non-accompanying family member is inadmissible; or
(b)they are an accompanying family member of an inadmissible person.
42.1 (1) The Minister may, on application by a foreign national, declare that the matters referred to in section 34, paragraph 35(1)(b) and subsection 37(1) do not constitute inadmissibility in respect of the foreign national if they satisfy the Minister that it is not contrary to the national interest.Exception — Minister’s own initiative(2) The Minister may, on the Minister’s own initiative, declare that the matters referred to in section 34, paragraph 35(1)(b) and subsection 37(1) do not constitute inadmissibility in respect of a foreign national if the Minister is satisfied that it is not contrary to the national interest.Considerations(3) In determining whether to make a declaration, the Minister may only take into account national security and public safety considerations, but, in his or her analysis, is not limited to considering the danger that the foreign national presents to the public or the security of Canada.