Minister Jason Kenney In Response to Don Davies Question About Maeng Family Deportation

The Honourable Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney commented generally in reply to Vancouver Kingsway MP Don Davies' specific concerns about the Maeng family deportation.  The Maeng family has lived in NB for several years and have been valued contributing members to the local community. Their eldest son has done well in school and is studying to become a dentist.  Their younger son has autism and epilepsy and for this reason, years after the family arrived in Canada, and after disclosing the son's autism condition, Canada has ordered the entire family deported by the end of June.  Don Davies MP for Vancouver Kingsway, BRITISH COLUMBIA, questioned Minister Kenney and received this reply as reported in Hansard:

Hon. Jason Kenney (Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, CPC):  

    Mr. Speaker, first of all I congratulate the member on his re-election and his appointment as the immigration critic for the official opposition.    The member knows that the minister cannot comment on particular cases because of the Privacy Act. Having said that, there is a very fair process, including access to applications for permanent residency for humanitarian and compassionate reasons by individuals. Those are not considered by elected officials but by highly trained public servants. I would point out that there is in our law provision for medical inadmissibility for those who the provinces deem would represent an undue burden to our tax-funded public health care system.

Don Davies, MP Vancouver Kingsway, Stands Up for Moncton's Maeng Family

Yes a member of Parliament has spoken up in the House of Commons on behalf of the Maeng family, the Korean family, residents of Moncton New Brunswick  for several years, and contributing members of that community, who are facing imminent deportation because their younger son has autism and epilepsy.  No it is not the Conservative Member of Parliament from Moncton,  Robert Goguen, who has made no public comment on the serious threat facing the Maeng family and their 15 year old autistic son. It was Vancouver Kingsway NDP MP Don Davies who asked the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to review this troubling decision, a decision of which many Canadians are ashamed:

Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the people of Moncton are shocked to learn that some very respected members of their community are facing deportation.

    The Maeng family have put down firm roots since moving to Canada eight years ago. They have built their own business, and their eldest son is studying to become a dentist.

    However, despite having disclosed their younger son's health problems from the outset, they are now being told his autism and epilepsy disqualify them from permanent residency.

    Will the minister commit to reviewing this troubling decision on humanitarian and compassionate grounds?

It is encouraging to see a Member of Parliament standing up for the Maeng family.  It is sad though  that an MP from Canada's other coast has taken up their cause while local MP's remain silent.

Thank you Mr. Davies.

Woe Canada! More Canadian Shame as South Korean Family In Moncton Forced to Leave Canada Because of Son's Autism and Epilepsy

VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

Canada's shameful and dishonorable conduct towards families and children with autism and other disabilities continues with the forced expulsion of a South Korean family because one of their son's suffers from autism and eplipsy.  The family operates a business in downtown Moncton New Brunswick and the oldest son has, as reported in the Times & Transcript, graduated with honors and has gone on to Dalhousie University where he studies science and hopes to become a dentist:

"They came to Canada to seek a better life for their children, but now they're being told to leave because their youngest son's illness costs too much. They came to Canada to seek a better life for their children, but now they're being told to leave because their youngest son's illness costs too much. The Maeng family from South Korea moved to Moncton in 2003 and within a few years set up a business, The Main Stop Oriental Market on West Main Street. They care for their youngest boy, Sung-Joo, 15, who has been diagnosed with autism and epilepsy, while their older son, Jung-Joo, 19, has worked his way through school, graduating with honours from Harrison Trimble High School last year before moving on to Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Tae-Shik Maeng and mother Hee-Eun Jang, received a letter informing them that their family would have to leave Canada by June 30. The family's application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to extend their temporary resident permit (worker and student) was denied due to the medical and education expenses of Sung-Joo"


Shame on us Canada.