CAT/C/61/D/659/2015
that the profile of the complainant and his family as failed refugee claimants did not expose
them to a risk of torture if returned to Sri Lanka.
7.4
The State party submits that the officer who considered the application for
permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds also provided detailed
reasons for the rejection of the application filed by the complainant on his own and on
behalf of his spouse and daughter, who was 15 years old at the time. That officer was “not
satisfied that the complainant and his family would suffer unusual and undeserved or
disproportionate hardship should they present their permanent residence application
abroad”.
7.5
In coming to this conclusion, the officer considered various factors, including the
best interest of the child. In that regard, the officer considered the fact that the family would
be returning to Sri Lanka as a unit and the complainant did not demonstrate that his
daughter would not have access to adequate education, health or social services. The officer
concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to establish that the general consequences
of applying for permanent residence from outside Canada would have a negative impact on
the child.
7.6
The State party maintains that the complainant and his family have not exhausted all
available domestic remedies as they have not applied to the Federal Court for leave for a
judicial review of the decisions of 30 October 2015 rejecting their pre-removal risk
assessment and permanent residence applications. The State party explains that a successful
judicial review would result in an order for reconsideration of the impugned decisions.
7.7
The State party argues that the complainant and his family could have also sought
leave for a judicial review of the decision of 28 January 2015 taken by the officer of
Canada Border Services Agency rejecting their application for administrative deferral of
their removal. The State party further informs the Committee that a judicial stay of removal
pending the disposition of a Federal Court application may also be available.
7.8
The State party reiterates that judicial review is a procedure that should be exhausted
for the purposes of admissibility and that the judicial review by the Federal Court provides
for review on the merits and provides an effective remedy against removal.
7.9
The State party claims that the complainant’s assertions that the judicial review
process is both costly and futile are unsubstantiated. The State party submits that mere
doubts about the effectiveness of a remedy do not absolve a person from seeking to exhaust
that remedy and that it is generally not within the scope of the Committee’s competence to
evaluate the prospects of success of a domestic remedy.22 Furthermore, the complainant and
his family have not shown, or even alleged, that they lacked the financial means to pursue
those remedies.
7.10 Finally, the State party informs the Committee that a new application for permanent
residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds was received in November 2016.
The application was filed by the complainant on his own and on behalf of his spouse and
daughter. The State party informs the Committee that they will be entitled to apply to the
Federal Court for leave for a judicial review of a negative decision regarding an application
for permanent residence.
Issues and proceedings before the Committee
Consideration of admissibility
8.1
Before considering any claim submitted in a communication, the Committee must
decide whether it is admissible under article 22 of the Convention. The Committee has
ascertained, as it is required to do under article 22 (5) (a) of the Convention, that the same
matter has not been and is not being examined under another procedure of international
investigation or settlement.
22
10
See, for example, communications No. 22/1995, M.A. v. Canada, decision adopted on 3 May 1995,
paras. 3-4; and No. 86/1997, P.S. v. Canada, decision adopted on 18 November 1999, paras. 5.1-5.3
and 6.3.