COMPATIBILITY OF THE 1954 CONVENTION RELATING TO THE STATUS OF STATELESS
PERSONS WITH CANADA’S LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ITS
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 3
Background to the Report .................................................................................................................... 3
The Purpose of the Report .................................................................................................................... 4
Methodology ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Limitations of the Report ..................................................................................................................... 5
CHAPTER I: GENERAL PROVISIONS ............................................................................................ 7
Article 1: Definition of the term “stateless person” ............................................................................. 7
I. Background & Commentary ...................................................................................................... 7
II. The Canadian Legal Framework .............................................................................................. 8
III. Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 11
IV. Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 13
Article 3: Non-discrimination ............................................................................................................ 14
I. Background & Commentary .................................................................................................... 14
II. Canadian Legal Framework ................................................................................................... 14
III. Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 16
Article 4: Religion .............................................................................................................................. 17
I. Background & Commentary .................................................................................................... 17
II. Canadian Legal Framework ................................................................................................... 17
III. Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 19
CHAPTER II: JURIDICAL STATUS................................................................................................ 19
Article 12: Personal status .................................................................................................................. 19
I. Background & Commentary .................................................................................................... 19
II. Canadian Legal Framework ................................................................................................... 20
III. Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 22
IV. Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 22
Article 13: Movable and immovable property ................................................................................... 23
I. Background & Commentary .................................................................................................... 23
II. Canadian Legal Framework ................................................................................................... 24
III. Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 25
IV. Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 26
Article 14: Artistic rights and industrial property .............................................................................. 26
I. Background & Commentary .................................................................................................... 26
II. Canadian Legal Framework ................................................................................................... 27
III. Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 31
Article 15: Right of association .......................................................................................................... 32
I. Background & Commentary .................................................................................................... 32
II. Canadian Legal Framework ................................................................................................... 33
III. Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 35
IV. Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 36
Article 16: Access to courts ............................................................................................................... 36
I. Background & Commentary .................................................................................................... 36
II. Canadian Legal Framework ................................................................................................... 37
III. Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 40
IV. Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 40
1
i