Imagine, just for a moment, that you and your family just moved to a new neighbourhood where you didn't know anybody or anything. Now, imagine that all these new people kicked you and your family out for reasons that were far beyond you or anyone else's control. Sadly, that's the reality for the many autistic immigrants deported from Canada each year.
A little bit of research regarding Canada's immigration laws will tell you that Section 38 of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act allows autistic immigrants to be refused entry into Canada on the grounds that their condition would be expected to cause "excessive demand on health or social services". However, anyone familiar with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms will know that this is in direct violation of Section 15, which states that "Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability." Even without the legal implications regarding Section 38's clause, said clause still perpetuates the idea that autistic children and adults have nothing to offer to society-an idea that has been proven wrong by the likes of Temple Grandin and Dan Aykroyd (who has Asperger's and is Canadian born)-and continues to add to an already damaging stigma surrounding individuals on the spectrum.
I was 2 years old when I was diagnosed with high-functioning autism. Me and my brother were lucky to have parents willing to cover-and fight for-the care and services we needed, even when our own government wouldn't help us in our fight. I now write this petition in the hopes that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister Ahmed Hussen strike down this unlawful clause and honour not only the rights of autistic immigrants, but those of autistic Canadian citizens and those who continue to fight for us.
