Canada, Breaking up the family unit

[inlimbo]

Right, so it's "Canada's" fault that you decided to drink and drive that night???! Give me a frigging break. Learn to take some responsibility for your own actions. Canada is not breaking up your family. You are. You can always go and live together in Ireland.

Whoa, Ariell. This is hardly criminal. My goodness. Disgusting response. This poor family is being torn apart the same as another where far worse crime was committed. This is Canada at its worst.

 

[inlimbo]

There is an irony ( of sorts ) here. I am not at all for drinking and driving, but, does anyone remember what B.C.'s premier committed a few years ago in Hawaii?

Exactly. Isn't he now working in London as the Canadian ambassador there?

 

[Leon]

Whoa, Ariell. This is hardly criminal. My goodness. Disgusting response. This poor family is being torn apart the same as another where far worse crime was committed. This is Canada at its worst.

Drinking and driving is a crime in Canada. That is why they punish you for it.

As for immigration, they have their rules. There is no reason why the OP could not have sponsored his wife to immigrate to Ireland for the 4 years. It is not like he would get banned from Canada forever.

 

[inlimbo]

It's ridiculous to me nonetheless. To be temporairly barred from entering Canada, tarred with the same
brush as armed robbers, etc., when the crime committed was striking and driving, is unbalanced. When children are involved, the criminality ought to be weighed against the potential hardship. If Canada needs more people, why this selectivism?

 

[DCGelfling]

It's ridiculous to me nonetheless. To be temporairly barred from entering Canada, tarred with the same
brush as armed robbers, etc., when the crime committed was striking and driving, is unbalanced. When children are involved, the criminality ought to be weighed against the potential hardship. If Canada needs more people, why this selectivism?

A car is an incredibly deadly weapon in the wrong hands. If someone has demonstrated that level of irresponsibility, I don't want to live near them until they have proven they won't do it again.

 

[Fencesitter]

Exactly. A car is a deadly weapon when some drunk idiot is behind the wheel...or an Asian, sobre...(just a joke!!!)...I drive in China...enough said...

I'm not sure that a 5 year ban is an appropriate punishment for the crime. Perhaps a year or two...

FS

 

[R151NG5UN]

A car is an incredibly deadly weapon in the wrong hands. If someone has demonstrated that level of irresponsibility, I don't want to live near them until they have proven they won't do it again.


Everybody makes mistakes and yes DUI is a serious offence where one should be helped through that mistake. Making judgements like that to me is a form of prejudice. He made a mistake, did he do it often? I dont know but I can only comment on what he says and the punishment for this offence far out exceeds the "crime". What if immigration forbid points on your drivers licence? if you were caught talking on your cell phone whilst driving? smoking in a public place?

He made a mistake and should be rehabilitated but to bar somebody to apply for immigration after such a long time is ridiculous. Everybody here has done something they are not supposed to. Imagine not being able to apply for immigration if you were caught smoking cannabis or something like that? Easy to make judgements but hard to walk a mile in another persons shoes

 

[Fencesitter]

He broke the law, so it's not too hard to pass judgement. If he were a responsible individual, he wouldn't have done it. Drinking and driving is very serious because it endangers the public. My dad's best friend and his family (two small children) were all killed because some idiot decided to drink and drive. No, if you get behind the wheel and you're drunk, be prepared for the consequences. a 5 year ban, however, is a bit much...ban the guy from driving for 5 years, but not to be eligible for immigration...there is really no connection between drunk driving and immigrating...unless of course you killed someone whilst driving drunk...but that's a whole different matter.

FS

 

[truesmile]

Let's get one thing clear here, a DUI is not just "points on your driver's license", it's an 'indictable offence' prosecuted under Canadian criminal law, NOT the Highway Traffic Act. I'm with the previous comment to the effect of "driving while drunk" (excess of .08) is like walking around with a loaded gun only you DON'T know when or who you're going to point and shoot it with. And BTW the legal limit has been lowered to .05 so that means you're now down to less than TWO German pints in one sitting (if you dare try again).

FS - we have plenty of the "sobre" drivers of type you mentioned here too, we DON'T need anymore of either!

 

[R151NG5UN]

This topic will always create divide between on how severely he should be punished. Personally I believe that letting a 16 year old drive alone is way too young for these exact reasons, how can you let a minor drive on their own before they are legally allowed to vote? Young people make mistakes that is how they learn. I would be curious to know the OP's age but that was 3 years ago.

We all make mistakes in life and we learn from them and become better people for our mistakes. What if you wake up after a good night drinking and head in to work and get stopped by police and are over the limit? I have probably spoken to over 1000 people in life who have done this and some are respected and hold down jobs in the very highest of postions including people who work for the people who enforce that very law.

What he did was bad I agree with that, let him serve his 1 year/2 year driving ban and force him to take counselling and blood tests before he can drive (As is U.K law for 2nd offenders) but a 5 year driving ban that is draconian considering he never hurt anybody or caused an accident. A car is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands but so is any instrument or object. This to me is totally wrong considering those who are judging or are in official positions have committed more serious offences.

 

[bagelbagel81]

Drinking and driving is a crime in Canada. That is why they punish you for it.

As for immigration, they have their rules. There is no reason why the OP could not have sponsored his wife to immigrate to Ireland for the 4 years. It is not like he would get banned from Canada forever.

+1

It's like any country and their policies.

-If you want to live in Canada, play by their rules - simple.