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Emigrating British family turned away from Canada because their daughter, 7, is disabled
Last updated at 11:29am on 08.08.08
They had sold their home, packed their bags and flown to Canada to embark on a new life.
Paul Chapman, his wife Barbara-Anne and their children Jack, 16, and Lucy, seven, were excited about setting up home on a two-acre plot in Nova Scotia.
But their dreams were shattered by an immigration official who announced they could not enter the country because Lucy has a disability.
Shattered dream: (Left to right) Jack, Paul, Lucy and Barbara-Anne Chapman
The bombshell came when the family from Wokingham, Berkshire, handed their passports to a female guard at Halifax airport.
Mr Chapman, 42,said: 'She asked, "Why have you brought your daughter to this country?"
'I asked why I shouldn't and was told that because Lucy was disabled she had a lifetime ban.
Paid for: The house the Chapman family planned to move into in Nova Scotia
'In 2008 a country as sophisticated as Canada was refusing my daughter entry because she is disabled.'
Paperwork handed to the family said that an individual could be refused entry if their health 'might reasonably be expected to cause excessive demands on health or social services'.
Left behind: Harvey the family dog plays outside the Nova Scotia home. Harvey has stayed in Canada
However, the Chapmans had taken advice from the Canadian authorities and arranged for temporary residency permits to be issued.
They arrived as tourists, expecting to pick up the permits within two weeks, and had been told Lucy's health would not be a stumbling block in such circumstances.
The Chapmans, both former Metropolitan Police officers, argue the regulations are irrelevant in any case.
The rules: The Chapmans say Lucy's genetic condition puts nobody at risk and does not require treatment
They say Lucy, who has a rare genetic defect called Angelman syndrome which means she has a reduced mental age and cannot speak, requires no additional medical care or drugs.
Their dream was to set up a children's soft play centre business, and apply for permanent residency at a later date, having proved their daughter was no drain on health service resources.
Sold up: The Chapman's former family home in Wokingham, Berkshire was sold in preparation for the move, leaving them effectively homeless
Instead, they were allowed to stay in Canada for just 18 days. Last night, they were back in Britain and staying at a friend's house.
They have employed a Canadian lawyer to help them achieve entry.
A spokesman for Citizenship and Immigration Canada said: 'People with disabilities can come to Canada.
'They just have to follow the proper process, which includes ensuring the residency permit is in place before arriving in Canada.'
Plans: Paul Chapman and his daughter Lucy enjoy an earlier holiday in Oakland Park, Canada
Reader views (20)
There's always two sides to every story? like why the secrecy from some members of their family, they weren't even told they were going. Don't believe everything you read.
- B.Maynard, Worcester Park
After seeing this story I am sickened in the way this family has been treated.
I sincerely hope the Federal Government here in Canada will investigate this.
Ashamed.
- Scott Watson, Toronto Canada
First of all my heart goes out to Lucy the little girl. To Chapmans;- there is something they are not telling us here...did you get your permanent resident from Citizen Immigration Canada before you sold your home, packed up your bags and left? Why do you think you are special that you can just walk into to Canada...fly or drive to Canada and settle down just because you are British? Do you have an idea what many immigrants go through in your country?
- Gaceri, Calgary, Canada
My family and I are in the process of trying to emigrate to Canada. We are fortunate to have no outstanding health problems or other special circumstances, therefore it's a pretty straightforward case.
Having filled in all the forms and provided the considerable amount of documentation required, we were advised that it would be up to 48 months before the Canadian authorities even began to assess our case. We still have another year to wait.
Both of us are highly qualified professionals with good work records, good health and we are fortunate to be in the position to support ourselves in Canada while we both seek employment. Yet there is no guarantee that we will be successful.
It amazes me that any parent, let alone one with a special needs child, would simply sell up and move abroad without having having iron clad guarantees of permission to settle. This smacks of the old, rather arrogant, British attitude that we can live wherever we please.
Canada is eager for immigration, but it's their country. Their demands are high and rules strict. These are quite clearly stated on the Canadian High Commission web site. There is no excuse of having been misled. You can't simply jump on a plane and then use moral blackmail to try and bypass the immigration sysytem.
I can imagine the public reaction if someone tried to do the same here.
- Andrew, Edinburgh
Hmm, I'm slightly pigeon toe-d, do you think they'd let me in?
- Spike, Bucks
Seems fair enough to me - rules are rules.
- Noel, SW8
This happens in New Zealand too - I'm sure lots of countries have similar rules to make sure that immigrants don't become burdens on the country's resources.
Just make sure you follow the rules and get all the paperwork in order first....
- Liz, London, UK
But they let us French in all the time, some people just don't have their priorities right.
- Louis Quatorze, Quebec, Canada
It is always a mistake to emigrate anywhere without the proper paperwork and imagine it can all be sorted out after you arrive. I don't know of any OECD country that would allow it.
- Dorothy, London, UK
What a mess. I understand that the country has strict immigration policies (I wish ours did!) but surely this matter should have come to light before they arrived. What was that visa company actually doing to earn its fee?
- Rachel, Glamorgan, UK
Nice evidence of the mess that a new National Health Service has made of Canadian perspectives. Sounds like bureaucratic 'one size fits all' knee-jerk money saving reaction.
- Rogan, DFW TX
As an Immigrant to Canada from London, England I would like to make something very clear, Canada is safe, clean and respectful to everyone regardless of race, gender or disability.
In fact across Canada there are a plethora of extremely well funded facilities, aid workers and integration programs for both the mentally and physically handicapped.
As genuinely friendly and proud of our British roots Canadian people, you must realize that everything in this country is done by the book and done correctly, borders are sensitive places in Canada largely due to the pressure that our “Friendly” neighbours in the united states put on our government to keep out the “terrorists” that we harbour.
This is an example of no papers, no entry! As silly as it may seem you cannot secure permanent residency whilst in Canada as a “tourist” regardless if you’re a wealthy family from England or a disabled person from Africa.
- Ashley Mofrad, Vancouver, Canada
PLease, be rational.
Most countries are tough when it come to immigration.
It's only here in Britain, that we welcome illegal immigrants and give them housing, NHS, family allowance, people with AIDS or TB.
Criminals? can't send them back after they serve their term in prison..., in case their own Government put them in prison (they were criminals in their own country, in the first place... and criminals here of course) but we keep and feed them.
Not all Counties are as generous - or plain stupid - as we are.
- Paul Epps, twickenham
I cannot believe what I am reading, it's embarrassing and stupid that this family could have been treated this way. Surely Canada House in London would have picked up on this at the time when they applied, something has gone horribly wrong for this family.
- Tony, Toronto,Canada
I don't think I will be bring my children to such a backward country.
- Professor Stephen Hawking, Cambs
I thought the TV show South Park was being harsh taking the Mick out of Canada, not anymore! Thank god we are more understanding in the UK, we let anyone in to claim benefits and free housing!
- Paul, London
Why would this family want to move to a country with such discriminatory views!
- Karen, Kent
Staging the Para-Olympics is not on Canada's agenda anytime soon then?
Heartbreaking, I thought our Nations were friends.
- Paul, Bromley
This is appalling! I hope they win. That is the worse reason to not allow a person into a country. Who makes up these rules?
- Denise Groves, USA
They should ask the visa consultancy firm to refund their money.
- Sue R, London
