According to comprehensive reports from WorldWay: In Canada, many new immigrants, despite being highly qualified, often inadvertently break the law due to a lack of familiarity with Canadian legal standards, leading to unfortunate consequences. When facing police, judges, or lawyers, they often find themselves in a position where they cannot defend their actions. On one hand, they accept penalties; on the other, the lawyers they hire may not provide a not-guilty defense. Let us examine three examples to understand common legal knowledge in Canada.
First, a Canadian international student encountered a road rage incident between two vehicles, made a gesture, and shouted a few insults, which immediately drew a warning from the police.
Second, a new immigrant, after a bus driver suspected their monthly pass was fake and confiscated it, lightly touched the driver's arm while trying to retrieve the pass. This minor action not only led to a police search and being handcuffed but also resulted in the individual being taken to court.
Third, a new immigrant took a step forward while being inspected by the police, which resulted in the individual being physically assaulted by the officer.
These three vivid examples occurred among our fellow countrymen. Because the individuals involved were unfamiliar with Canadian law and acted based on instinct or habits from China, they unexpectedly caused themselves significant trouble. In the first case, let alone shouting a few insults, even if a full-blown argument had broken out, people in China might be accustomed to it. However, in Canada, the police will intervene thoroughly. In the second case, there were no physical injuries; in China, this might not even be considered a civil case, let alone a criminal one. Yet in Canada, it became a criminal case because physical contact occurred. Once it became a criminal case, the individual was naturally searched and handcuffed before being brought to court. New immigrants must hire lawyers to handle such matters.
Even if found not guilty, records such as fingerprints cannot be cleared immediately and require one year to be expunged. In the third case, it is best not to make any suggestive movements when being inspected by the police, as it can easily be perceived as an attempt to assault an officer. If there is sufficient evidence and witnesses, filing a high-value claim against the other party is a distinct possibility.
The breadth and detail of Canadian law are staggering. Taking a few thumbtacks without permission can lead to a tarnished reputation and even affect one's business; getting into a verbal altercation with a store clerk can result in both financial penalties and formal warnings; riding a bicycle without brakes can lead to a hundred-dollar fine.
Even celebrating with friends in the wilderness can be restricted by the police. Police and judges are extremely rigorous and allow for no leniency.
People have noticed that these incidents of inadvertently breaking the law mostly happen to new immigrants. With media coverage, we should also be prepared to provide relevant legal education for new immigrants. As the saying goes, "a fall into a pit, a gain in your wit," we hope such incidents will no longer happen to new immigrants.
There are many differences between China and Canada. In the face of this situation, although immigration service centers have launched various seminars covering legal knowledge, the current amount of legal information provided is still insufficient. We hope our fellow countrymen will master this legal knowledge as soon as possible, and we also urge immigration departments to increase relevant services.
WorldWay Editor
