Your immigration status could be impacted by impaired driving

Canada has made marijuana (cannabis) legally available to adults under strict new laws.

Tough new penalties are also being imposed on those who drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including cannabis, or commit cannabis-related crimes.

The new cannabis-related penalties took effect on October 17, 2018.

Cannabis-related crimes include:

• Illegally producing, distributing or selling cannabis.

• Illegally importing or exporting cannabis or cannabis-related products across Canada’s international borders.

Most cannabis-related crimes will have a maximum penalty of 14 years.

Under the new impaired driving penalties that took effect on December 18, 2018, most impaired driving offences will be considered serious crimes in Canada. The maximum penalty for most impaired driving offences will increase from 5 to 10 years.

The impact of these new penalties on permanent and temporary residents could be significant.

Here’s how you could be affected:

If you commit an impaired driving or a cannabis-related crime, you could face a fine, criminal charges or jail.

However, you may also be found inadmissible to Canada for serious criminality.

It doesn’t matter if the crime happened inside or outside Canada.

This means:

• Permanent residents may lose their status and have to leave the country.

• Temporary residents (including visitors, international students and foreign workers) may not be able to enter or stay in Canada.

• Refugee claimants may not be eligible to have their claim referred for a refugee hearing.

Appeal rights for permanent residents and foreign nationals, including sponsored members of the family class, could also be affected.

 Federal internship for newcomers

Text from IRCC

The Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program offers eligible newcomers a chance to gain valuable temporary work experience and training opportunities with Canadian federal, provincial and municipal organizations.

There are different opportunities every year. Employers offer internships in fields like:

• Administration

• Project support/management

• Policy and research

• Computer science

Through the FIN Program, candidates are hired as temporary employees and are able to:

• Understand job application and hiring processes

• Learn about Canadian workplace culture

• Network with professionals

• Attend training sessions

• Be matched with a public service mentor

Beware of ticket scams!

Investigators from the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau have warned the public of an ongoing ticket scam targeting sports fans.

Police have received several reports from citizens who have made online arrangements to purchase Toronto Raptors tickets with unknown individuals. Citizens then either prepaid online for nonexistent tickets or met with and paid cash to a seller and received fraudulent tickets.

Police anticipate that, in light of the Toronto Raptors’ current success, future attempts to defraud members of the pubic will continue.

As a proactive measure, police are asking the public to consider the following:

Do not prepay for anything on sites such as Kijiji, Let Go and Ebay regardless of being shown images of the tickets or product.   

If meeting the seller in person to pay cash, do not assume that the tickets are legitimate. Purchase your tickets or products from a reputable commercial seller.

If the purchase price appears too good to be true, it likely is. 

Utilize the designated Peel Regional Police Buy and Sell Exchange Zones.

Anyone with information, in relation to this investigation is asked to contact the Fraud Bureau at 905- 453-2121, ext. 3335. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.

To learn more about this type of scam and other scams visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website at www.antifraudcentre.ca.

New seniors’ monthly bus pass 

City of Brampton staff have indicated the recently approved $15 senior monthly pass should commence as early as September, but could be delayed until the new year.

The new pass will be available to residents who are 65 years of age or older, and reside in Brampton.  Senior riders will need to have a registered PRESTO card and a Brampton Transit issued Senior ID card, which will require proof of age and residency.

Transit staff will keep residents informed on details as to when and where the pass will be available. “We appreciate everyone’s patience while we sort through the administrative processes to implement the new pass,” said Regional Councillor Gurpreet Singh Dhillon.

“Furthermore, we are also excited to eventually begin reducing the cost down even further before 2022 as this Council promised.”