Fast v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), 2001 FCA 368

Date: 20011127

Docket: A-600-00

Neutral citation: 2001 FCA 368

CORAM:        DÉCARY J.A.

LINDEN J.A.

SEXTON J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                                                       JACOB FAST

                                                                                                                                        Plaintiff/Appellant

                                                                                 and

                             THE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

                                       and THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

                                                                                                                             Defendants/Respondent

                                          Heard at Ottawa, Ontario, on November 27, 2001.

                  Judgment delivered from the Bench at Ottawa, Ontario, on November 27, 2001.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:                                              DÉCARY J.A.

Date: 20011127

Docket: A-600-00

Neutral citation: 2001 FCA 368

CORAM:        DÉCARY J.A.

LINDEN J.A.

SEXTON J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                                                       JACOB FAST

                                                                                                                                        Plaintiff/Appellant

                                                                                 and

                             THE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

                                       and THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

                                                                                                                             Defendants/Respondent

                                       REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

                                           (Delivered from the Bench at Ottawa, Ontario

                                                              on November 27, 2001.)

DÉCARY J.A.

[1]                 We are in substantial agreement with the thorough analysis made by Mr. Justice Lemieux ([2001] 1 F.C. 257 (T.D.)), and particularly with his conclusion, at para. 57, that

...the reference process mandated by paragraph 18(1)(b) of the [Citizenship] Act coupled with Part 4 of the Rules which govern references, provides a vehicle whereby the soundness of the notice of revocation issued by the Minister under section 18 of the Act can be tested and reviewed on the grounds which Mr. Fast identifies in his judicial review application. Those grounds, it will be recalled, were alleged to be jurisdictional ones related to the adequacy of the notice, irrelevant considerations in the notice which alleges he made a misrepresentation in 1947 to immigration officials and the attack in the notice which states that, in 1947, he failed to divulge to Canadian officials responsible for selecting individuals wishing to come to Canada his activities during the Second World War.

[2]                 We only wish to add that even if section 18.5 of the Federal Court Act had not applied, the Court could have exercised its discretion to refuse the judicial review application on the basis that the reference procedure contemplated by section 18 of the Citizenship Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29) with respect to revocation of citizenship is an adequate alternative remedy (see Canadian Pacific Ltd. v. Matsqui Indian Band, [1995] 1 S.C.R. 3), as is amply demonstrated by the decisions rendered in recent years in revocation of citizenship references.

[3]                 The appeal will be dismissed with costs.

                                                                                                                   "Robert Décary"                                 

                                                                                                                                        J.A.

Date: 20011127

Docket: A-600-00

OTTAWA, Ontario, November 27, 2001.

CORAM:        DÉCARY J.A.

LINDEN J.A.

SEXTON J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                                                       JACOB FAST

                                                                                                                                        Plaintiff/Appellant

                                                                                 and

                             THE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION

                                       and THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

                                                                                                                             Defendants/Respondent

                                                                        JUDGMENT

The appeal is dismissed with costs.

                                                                                                                                             "Robert Décary"                                 

                                                                                                                                                                  J.A.