Anyone convicted of murder or a serious violent or sexual offence in Canada, or an equivalent offence abroad, cannot be a party to a refugee sponsorship until at least five years have passed since they completed their sentence.
(1)The following persons are ineligible to be a party to a sponsorship: (a)a person who has been convicted in Canada of the offence of murder or an offence set out in Schedule I or II to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, regardless of whether it was prosecuted by indictment, if a period of five years has not elapsed since the completion of the person’s sentence; (b)a person who has been convicted of an offence outside Canada that, if committed in Canada, would constitute an offence referred to in paragraph (a), if a period of five years has not elapsed since the completion of the person’s sentence imposed under a foreign law; (c)a person who is in default of any support payment obligations ordered by a court; (d)a person who is subject to a removal order; (e)a person who is subject to a revocation proceeding under the Citizenship Act; and (f)a person who is detained in any penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison.
(2)For the purpose of paragraph (1)(a), a sponsorship application may not be refused on the basis of a conviction in respect of which a pardon has been granted and has not ceased to have effect or been revoked under the Criminal Records Act, or in respect of which there has been a final determination of an acquittal.