Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (S.C. 2001, c. 27)
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Act current to 2024-08-18 and last amended on 2024-06-20. Previous Versions
PART 2Refugee Protection (continued)
DIVISION 3Pre-removal Risk Assessment (continued)
Principle of Non-refoulement
Marginal note:Protection
115 (1) A protected person or a person who is recognized as a Convention refugee by another country to which the person may be returned shall not be removed from Canada to a country where they would be at risk of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion or at risk of torture or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.
Marginal note:Exceptions
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in the case of a person
(a) who is inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality and who constitutes, in the opinion of the Minister, a danger to the public in Canada; or
(b) who is inadmissible on grounds of security, violating human or international rights or organized criminality if, in the opinion of the Minister, the person should not be allowed to remain in Canada on the basis of the nature and severity of acts committed or of danger to the security of Canada.
Marginal note:Removal of refugee
(3) A person, after a determination under paragraph 101(1)(e) that the person’s claim is ineligible, is to be sent to the country from which the person came to Canada, but may be sent to another country if that country is designated under subsection 102(1) or if the country from which the person came to Canada has rejected their claim for refugee protection.
Marginal note:Regulations
116 The regulations may provide for any matter relating to the application of this Division, and may include provisions respecting procedures to be followed with respect to applications for protection and decisions made under section 115, including the establishment of factors to determine whether a hearing is required.
PART 3Enforcement
Human Smuggling and Trafficking
Marginal note:Organizing entry into Canada
117 (1) No person shall organize, induce, aid or abet the coming into Canada of one or more persons knowing that, or being reckless as to whether, their coming into Canada is or would be in contravention of this Act.
Marginal note:Penalties — fewer than 10 persons
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) with respect to fewer than 10 persons is guilty of an offence and liable
(a) on conviction on indictment
(i) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $500,000 or to a term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years, or to both, or
(ii) for a subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $1,000,000 or to a term of imprisonment of not more than 14 years, or to both; and
(b) on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $100,000 or to a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, or to both.
Marginal note:Penalty — 10 persons or more
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) with respect to a group of 10 persons or more is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction by way of indictment to a fine of not more than $1,000,000 or to life imprisonment, or to both.
Marginal note:Minimum penalty — fewer than 50 persons
(3.1) A person who is convicted on indictment of an offence under subsection (2) or (3) with respect to fewer than 50 persons is also liable to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of
(a) three years, if either
(i) the person, in committing the offence, endangered the life or safety of, or caused bodily harm or death to, any of the persons with respect to whom the offence was committed, or
(ii) the commission of the offence was for profit, or was for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization or terrorist group; or
(b) five years, if both
(i) the person, in committing the offence, endangered the life or safety of, or caused bodily harm or death to, any of the persons with respect to whom the offence was committed, and
(ii) the commission of the offence was for profit, or was for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization or terrorist group.
Marginal note:Minimum penalty — 50 persons or more
(3.2) A person who is convicted of an offence under subsection (3) with respect to a group of 50 persons or more is also liable to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of
(a) five years, if either
(i) the person, in committing the offence, endangered the life or safety of, or caused bodily harm or death to, any of the persons with respect to whom the offence was committed, or
(ii) the commission of the offence was for profit, or was for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization or terrorist group; or
(b) 10 years, if both
(i) the person, in committing the offence, endangered the life or safety of, or caused bodily harm or death to, any of the persons with respect to whom the offence was committed, and
(ii) the commission of the offence was for profit, or was for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization or terrorist group.
Marginal note:No proceedings without consent
(4) No proceedings for an offence under this section may be instituted except by or with the consent of the Attorney General of Canada.
- 2001, c. 27, s. 117
- 2012, c. 17, s. 41
Marginal note:Offence — trafficking in persons
118 (1) No person shall knowingly organize the coming into Canada of one or more persons by means of abduction, fraud, deception or use or threat of force or coercion.
Marginal note:Definition of organize
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), organize, with respect to persons, includes their recruitment or transportation and, after their entry into Canada, the receipt or harbouring of those persons.
Marginal note:Disembarking persons at sea
119 A person shall not disembark a person or group of persons at sea for the purpose of inducing, aiding or abetting them to come into Canada in contravention of this Act.
Marginal note:Penalties
120 A person who contravenes section 118 or 119 is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction by way of indictment to a fine of not more than $1,000,000 or to life imprisonment, or to both.
Marginal note:Aggravating factors
121 The court, in determining the penalty to be imposed under section 120, shall take into account whether
(a) bodily harm or death occurred, or the life or safety of any person was endangered, as a result of the commission of the offence;
(b) the commission of the offence was for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization;
(c) the commission of the offence was for profit, whether or not any profit was realized; and
(d) a person was subjected to humiliating or degrading treatment, including with respect to work or health conditions or sexual exploitation as a result of the commission of the offence.
- 2001, c. 27, s. 121
- 2012, c. 17, s. 42
- 2017, c. 26, s. 44
Marginal note:Definition of criminal organization
121.1 (1) For the purposes of subparagraphs 117(3.1)(a)(ii) and (b)(ii) and (3.2)(a)(ii) and (b)(ii) and paragraph 121(b), criminal organization means a criminal organization as defined in subsection 467.1(1) of the Criminal Code.
Marginal note:Definition of terrorist group
(2) For the purposes of subparagraphs 117(3.1)(a)(ii) and (b)(ii) and (3.2)(a)(ii) and (b)(ii), terrorist group means a terrorist group as defined in subsection 83.01(1) of the Criminal Code.
- 2012, c. 17, s. 43
Offences Related to Documents
Marginal note:Documents
122 (1) No person shall, in order to contravene this Act,
(a) possess a passport, visa or other document, of Canadian or foreign origin, that purports to establish or that could be used to establish a person’s identity;
(b) use such a document, including for the purpose of entering or remaining in Canada; or
(c) import, export or deal in such a document.
Marginal note:Proof of offence
(2) Proof of the matters referred to in subsection (1) in relation to a forged document or a document that is blank, incomplete, altered or not genuine is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof that the person intends to contravene this Act.
Marginal note:Penalty
123 (1) Every person who contravenes
(a) paragraph 122(1)(a) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on indictment to a term of imprisonment of up to five years; and
(b) paragraph 122(1)(b) or (c) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on indictment to a term of imprisonment of up to 14 years.
Marginal note:Aggravating factors
(2) The court, in determining the penalty to be imposed, shall take into account whether
(a) the commission of the offence was for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a criminal organization as defined in subsection 121.1(1); and
(b) the commission of the offence was for profit, whether or not any profit was realized.
- 2001, c. 27, s. 123
- 2012, c. 17, s. 44
General Offences
Marginal note:Contravention of Act
124 (1) Every person commits an offence who
(a) contravenes a provision of this Act for which a penalty is not specifically provided or fails to comply with a condition or obligation imposed under this Act;
(b) escapes or attempts to escape from lawful custody or detention under this Act; or
(c) employs a foreign national in a capacity in which the foreign national is not authorized under this Act to be employed.
Marginal note:Deemed knowledge
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), a person who fails to exercise due diligence to determine whether employment is authorized under this Act is deemed to know that it is not authorized.
Marginal note:Due diligence defence
(3) A person referred to in subsection 148(1) shall not be found guilty of an offence under paragraph (1)(a) if it is established that they exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.
Marginal note:Penalties
125 A person who commits an offence under subsection 124(1) is liable
(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years, or to both; or
(b) on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.
Marginal note:Counselling misrepresentation
126 Every person who knowingly counsels, induces, aids or abets or attempts to counsel, induce, aid or abet any person to directly or indirectly misrepresent or withhold material facts relating to a relevant matter that induces or could induce an error in the administration of this Act is guilty of an offence.
Marginal note:Misrepresentation
127 No person shall knowingly
(a) directly or indirectly misrepresent or withhold material facts relating to a relevant matter that induces or could induce an error in the administration of this Act;
(b) communicate, directly or indirectly, by any means, false or misleading information or declarations with intent to induce or deter immigration to Canada; or
(c) refuse to be sworn or to affirm or declare, as the case may be, or to answer a question put to the person at an examination or at a proceeding held under this Act.
- 2001, c. 27, s. 127
- 2015, c. 3, s. 115(F)
Marginal note:Penalties
128 A person who contravenes a provision of section 126 or 127 is guilty of an offence and liable
(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years, or to both; or
(b) on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years, or to both.
Marginal note:Offences relating to officers
129 (1) Every person is guilty of an offence who
(a) being an officer or an employee of the Government of Canada, knowingly makes or issues any false document or statement, or accepts or agrees to accept a bribe or other benefit, in respect of any matter under this Act or knowingly fails to perform their duties under this Act;
(b) gives or offers to give a bribe or consideration to, or makes an agreement or arrangement with, an officer to induce the officer not to perform their duties under this Act;
(c) falsely personates an officer or by any act or omission leads any person to believe that the person is an officer; or
(d) obstructs or impedes an officer in the performance of the officer’s duties under this Act.
Marginal note:Punishment
(2) Every person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable
(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years, or to both; or
(b) on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.
130 [Repealed, 2001, c. 32, s. 81]
Marginal note:Counselling offence
131 Every person who knowingly induces, aids or abets or attempts to induce, aid or abet any person to contravene section 117, 118, 119, 122, 124 or 129, or who counsels a person to do so, commits an offence and is liable to the same penalty as that person.
- 2001, c. 27, s. 131, c. 32, s. 81
- 2012, c. 17, s. 45(F)
132 [Repealed, 2001, c. 32, s. 81]
Prosecution of Offences
Marginal note:Deferral
133 A person who has claimed refugee protection, and who came to Canada directly or indirectly from the country in respect of which the claim is made, may not be charged with an offence under section 122, paragraph 124(1)(a) or section 127 of this Act or under section 57, paragraph 340(c) or section 354, 366, 368, 374 or 403 of the Criminal Code, in relation to the coming into Canada of the person, pending disposition of their claim for refugee protection or if refugee protection is conferred.
Marginal note:Limitation period for summary conviction offences
133.1 (1) A proceeding by way of summary conviction for an offence under section 117, 126 or 127, or section 131 as it relates to section 117, may be instituted at any time within, but not later than, 10 years after the day on which the subject-matter of the proceeding arose, and a proceeding by way of summary conviction for any other offence under this Act may be instituted at any time within, but not later than, five years after the day on which the subject-matter of the proceeding arose.
Marginal note:Application
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the subject-matter of the proceeding arose before the day on which this section comes into force.
- 2011, c. 8, s. 3
- 2012, c. 17, s. 46
- Date modified: