Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, the truck driver responsible for the fatal Humboldt Broncos bus crash, has requested the reinstatement of his permanent resident status.
In May, the Immigration and Refugee Board issued a deportation order for Sidhu and revoked his permanent resident status. Sidhu, originally from India, arrived in Canada in 2014.
In 2018, while living in Calgary, Sidhu, a rookie truck driver, failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with the junior hockey team’s bus at a rural intersection near Tisdale, Saskatchewan. The crash resulted in the deaths of 16 people and injuries to 13 others.
Sidhu pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and received an eight-year prison sentence, though he was granted full parole last year.
Sidhuโs lawyer, Michael Greene, states that the application for reinstatement is being made on humanitarian grounds.
โThe key consideration is how a reasonable person would respond to alleviate the misfortunes of this individual,โ Greene explained. โHowever, this must be weighed against the severe consequences of his actions. Sidhu meets many criteria for humanitarian grounds.โ
Greene indicated that a decision on the application might take several months, with the entire process potentially extending up to two years. The evaluation will consider Sidhuโs integration into Canada, his family and community connections, and the best interests of his child.
Sidhu and his wife have a one-year-old child with severe heart and lung complications. Greene noted that relocating to India could pose significant challenges for the childโs health.
Families of the crash victims are divided on Sidhuโs potential deportation. Some advocate for his removal, while others support his right to stay.
The Reconciliation Action Group in Calgary has expressed its opposition to Sidhu’s deportation, arguing that it is influenced by racial biases. They highlight Sidhuโs Canadian wife and child with health issues, stating that deportation would negatively impact them.
Calgary MP George Chahal has called on federal politicians to block the deportation, asserting that Sidhu has served his sentence for the tragic incident.
Former Conservative leader Erin OโToole tweeted in December that deporting Sidhu would not resolve the pain caused by the crash, advocating for his permanent residency to be granted on compassionate grounds while acknowledging the grief of the victims’ families.
