Pierre Poilievre Calls for Immediate Deportation of Criminal Non-Citizens After By-Election Victory
Canada’s political spotlight shifted sharply this week as Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre returned to Parliament and immediately reignited the national immigration debate. Just two days after winning the Battle River–Crowfoot by-election in Alberta on August 20, 2025, Poilievre laid out a controversial policy pledge:
Any non-citizen who commits a crime in Canada should be jailed and then deported immediately.
This marks his most forceful immigration statement since April’s federal election loss, where he was unseated in Carleton but vowed to remain politically active. Now, with his comeback to the House of Commons secured, Poilievre is doubling down on crime and immigration as his core campaign themes.
What Poilievre is Proposing
At his press conference following the by-election win, Poilievre detailed a plan that would reshape how Canada handles immigrants and temporary residents who commit crimes:
- Immediate removal: Non-citizens convicted of crimes would serve their sentence in Canada and then be deported without lengthy appeals.
- Expanded CBSA powers: Increase funding for the Canada Border Services Agency to reduce deportation backlogs.
- Visa oversight: Stricter monitoring of visas and foreign nationals to prevent individuals with criminal histories from entering Canada.
- Targeting hate-related crimes: Cited recent pro-Palestinian protests where some participants engaged in vandalism, hate speech, and violence as an example of where swift deportation should apply.
Poilievre argued that Canada’s current immigration enforcement system is “broken” and too slow to act against those who commit crimes, leaving Canadians vulnerable.
The Law Today vs. Poilievre’s Plan
Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA):
- Permanent residents or foreign nationals can already be deported if convicted of a crime punishable by six months or more in prison.
- However, the process includes appeals and reviews, often delaying removals for years.
Poilievre’s proposal would remove many of these appeal rights, making deportations almost automatic after sentencing.
Supporters’ Perspective
Poilievre’s message has found traction among Canadians frustrated by rising concerns about crime and immigration:
- Many supporters say it is a “common-sense approach” that prioritizes Canadian safety.
- His stance mirrors calls from other Western countries for tougher immigration enforcement.
- Social media reactions on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) celebrated the policy as a decisive step to restore order.
Critics Push Back
Immigration experts, civil rights advocates, and community organizations quickly raised concerns:
- Due process risks: Stripping appeal rights could undermine Canada’s legal principles.
- Scapegoating: Advocacy groups like the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) condemned Poilievre’s focus on pro-Palestinian protests, saying it unfairly stigmatizes immigrants and racialized communities.
- Selective approach: Critics argue the proposal emphasizes antisemitism but does not equally address Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, or anti-Indigenous hate crimes.
- Backlog reality: The CBSA already has 10,000+ outstanding deportation cases, and expanding removals without structural reform may overwhelm the system further.
Political Context
This policy push comes at a pivotal moment for Poilievre and the Conservative Party:
- Return to Parliament: His by-election win in the Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot restores his seat in the House of Commons after losing Carleton in April.
- Strategic pivot: By focusing on crime and immigration, Poilievre is appealing to concerns about housing, jobs, and public safety, issues where many Canadians feel immigration plays a role.
- Liberal contrast: Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal minority continues to support high immigration targets (395,000 annually), while Poilievre has proposed a lower cap of 250,000.
- Populist trend: His rhetoric mirrors populist leaders in the U.S. and Europe who link immigration to social instability, aiming to energize his conservative base.
What This Means for Canada
Poilievre’s plan raises important questions that could dominate political debates in the months ahead:
- Who decides what counts as a “serious crime” for automatic deportation?
- How will the government balance public safety with Charter rights?
- Can CBSA handle faster deportations given its existing backlog and resource shortages?
- Will this energize Conservative support nationally or alienate key immigrant voter blocs, especially in Ontario and British Columbia?
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
