Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Family Denied Immigration Due To Down Syndrome

A New Democrat MP is demanding the federal government reverse a decision to bar a family from India from emigrating to Canada to join their son in B.C. because their adult daughter has Down Syndrome.

The son, Kevin Patel, of Vancouver, wanted to sponsor his parents and 27-year-old sister to come to Canada to become permanent residents.

But Immigration Canada rejected the request because it says the sister's condition could pose an excessive burden on Canada's health and social services.

NDP citizenship critic Don Davies says that conclusion is not supported by any facts, and in fact is contradicted by the evidence submitted in this case.

Davies told a news conference Friday that the refusal represents a bigoted and discriminatory view that's not in keeping with the modern understanding of people with Down.

The sister, Aditi Patel, lives with her parents who care for her, said Patel.

Promise to pay

He said he promised Canadian officials he would cover the costs of any services his sister would require.

Barbara Laird, the parent of a daughter with Down Syndrome, also attended the news conference in support of Patel.

"They have huge potential. They have huge intelligence," laird said. "They do things really well, sometimes better than the rest of us. They are extremely undervalued from birth up."

Davies is calling on Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to reverse the decision and allow the family to be reunited in Canada.

Down Syndrome is a genetic condition estimated to occur in about one in every 733 births, although is statistically higher among older parents. It is associated with some impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth and a particular set of facial characteristics.

Original Article
Source: Huff
Author: cbc

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