By
Pace Law

It’s Time To Move On From The Maryam Monsef Controversy

September 30, 2016

James Metcalfe - Director of ImmigrationJim Metcalfe – Pace Law Firm: Maryam Monsef, the federal Minister of Democratic Institutions, has been “outed” because she was not born in Afghanistan but in Iran:

Canadian immigration lawyers say Democratic Reform Minister Maryam Monsef could suffer consequences if her refugee or citizenship applications included false information.

“It’s extraordinarily serious,” Toronto immigration lawyer Guidy Mamann said. “From a strictly legal point of view – and I’m assuming cabinet ministers want to observe the law – she is a person right now who has citizenship through fraud. It may be intentional or unintentional, but her citizenship in Canada right now is open to attack.”

Peterborough Liberal MP Monsef was previously known as Canada’s first Afghan parliamentarian, having come here from Afghanistan as an 11-year-old refugee in 1996. However, she now says she only recently learned from her mother that she was in fact born in Iran. She reportedly spent time in Iran until the age of nine.

Opposition Conservatives are now making a fuss over Monsef’s birthplace, particularly one prospective leader for the leadership of the Conservative party. There are calls for an investigation, which could result in Monsef’s citizenship coming into question.

Let’s slow down a bit.

Maryam Monsef Controversy

The reported facts are that when Monsef’s mother applied for refugee status in Canada, she indicated that her minor daughter Maryam was born not in Iran but in Afghanistan. It should be noted that her application for refugee status and permanent residence in Canada were all processed in Canada.

monsef

Maryam Monsef – Pic: Canadian Press

Personally, I cannot get excited about a misstatement as to where Monsef was born. She and her family were fleeing persecution in a Taliban-held part of Afghanistan, a place not known for its stellar treatment of girls and women. Even if she was born in Iran, she has always been considered Afghan.

Monsef was a young girl when she came to Canada. She said that her mother never told her that she was born in Afghanistan and not Iran. If your mother told you that you were born in England and not, say, Scotland, would you have any reason to doubt her? Do you think that you should be sent to Scotland at age 30 because of it?

Let Monsef Get Back To Work

I presume that government officials will review her file give her a pass on her mother’s statement. She was considered an Afghan by Iran and she clearly travelled to Canada on an Afghan passport. I imagine her mother is one of many Afghans who fled Afghanistan and found safety in Iran and subsequently moved on to make a refugee application in Canada and elsewhere. In terms of Maryam Monsef’s Canadian story, it really does not make a difference where she was born.

I hope that this story will fade very quickly. There are more important matters to be considered in Canada at the national level and this so-called misrepresentation is a minor blip on the radar screen. Let Maryam Monsef concentrate on the job that Canadians elected her to do.

Share This Post
Email
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Trending Posts
Read More Insights
Wills And Estates
By
Pace Law
Estate planning, essential for ensuring posthumous wishes are met, remains an area 70% of Canadians neglect. This deficiency largely stems from misconceptions, such as believing estate planning is only for the wealthy or thinking they’re too young to start.
Criminal Defence Law
By
Pace Law
In Ontario, adherence to driving regulations is critical for public safety, but violations occur, leading to criminal charges.
Wills And Estates
By
Angela Barrientos
Have you ever thought about estate planning and concluded it’s unnecessary because you don’t own any real estate?
Corporate and Personal Law
By
Pace Law
A Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) is an integral document used when the shares of a corporation are being purchased. The document outlines the agreement between the buyer and seller and can be quite complex.
Wills And Estates
By
Angela Barrientos
A will is a legal document that clearly states how a person’s property and belongings will be divided after their passing.

Get in Touch

Call us now or fill out the form to discuss your case with an experienced legal professional.

Our Locations

Office Location

191 The West Mall, Suite 1100
Toronto, ON M9C 5K8
Phone: 1-877-236-3060
Fax: 416-236-1809

Office Location

191 The West Mall, Suite 1100
Toronto, ON M9C 5K8
Phone: 1-877-236-3060
Fax: 416-236-1809

Scroll to Top