Montreal: Marriage For Citizenship turns Deadly.

by Barry Artiste | December 31, 2007 at 07:59 am

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Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

Perhaps the greatest argument in abolishing to what amounts to a Long Time Scam of getting Canadian Citizenship through a Loveless Marriage. Canadian Citizenship should only be granted after 10 years of proven marriage, not a perfect solution, but a verifiable way or determining the longevity and enduring love in the relationship. This would at least allow the woman some insight into what her husband is like. Immediate and Extended Family Members abroad who salvitate at the prospect of being sponsored and immigrating to Canada to join their son or daughter most likely are part of the scam and are complicit in the murders of the spouse. Immediate and Extended Family Members should not be allowed to be sponsored to join their sons or daughters in Canada until the Two Spouses successful 10 year anniversary date is reached and after an intensive interview. Canada should implement these Laws, No Exceptions. In addition if a spouse dies under mysterious circumstances during anytime in the marriage or if the marriage is dissolved within the 10 year timeframe all will be deported, for a murder it will be a lengthy prison sentence and immediate deportation of the convicted person and his family members after time served, no exceptions, no appeals, no humanitarian grounds, such as all of a suddenly finding religion while in prison.

This and only this will ensure no child will have to undergo the horrors of loving without a beloved parent murdered by parasitic family members who also love these children, but place a higher price on immigration to Canada over the needs of the murdered spouse and their children.

Harsh Measures? You Bet! Political suicide? Pretty Much! Will it save some from Death and stop the scams in their tracks? Guaranteed! A Scammer can only keep up a facade for so long, 10 years is a long time. But guaranteed it will buy time for both the children and the murdered spouse, perhaps give the spouse some time for reflection before acting out, family members on both sides will act as mediators knowing the actions of one affects everyone. 10 years in Canada will certainly give everyone time for assimilationto get a foothold into Canadian society and learn what legal processes are available to them. Someone has to speak on a victims behalf and their children, certainly the Status Quo is not.

Marriage was unhappy, strangling victim confided

CHARLIE FIDELMAN, The Gazette

Published: 7 hours ago

She feared for her life in India, but Gurpreet Kaur was killed in Montreal - about three years after getting refugee status in Canada.

Now her children are in foster care and her best friend is in hiding.

On Christmas Day, Montreal police discovered Kaur's body - apparently beaten and strangled - wrapped in bed sheets on the balcony of the St. Laurent apartment she shared with her husband and two small children.

Kaur had just given birth to a boy. Youth protection put the 3-week-old baby and his sister, an 18-month-old toddler, in foster care.

Their children are safe and well cared for, police said.

The children's father, Harinder Singh Cheema, 28, went missing one day before her body was found.

He is considered a key witness, police said.

Kaur's best friend, also a refugee from the Punjab region of India, said she'll be afraid to go home until Cheema is found. She is now living with a friend.

The woman, who spoke on condition that her name not be used, has provided police with information in the case.

The woman told police that Cheema showed up at her apartment with the children at 10 a.m. on Dec. 24. He brought diapers and baby formula.

Dressed in thin undershirts under their snowsuits, the children were not properly dressed and had no hats, socks, pants or sweaters, the woman recounted.

"He seemed nervous and in a hurry," she said during an interview yesterday. He said he had to go look for his wife, who left suddenly after an argument.

Cheema telephoned at 4 p.m., asking whether Kaur had contacted her best friend.

"He asked: 'Did Gurpreet call you?' 'No way. You come and pick up your children.'

" 'Okay, I am coming within half an hour.' "

But he never showed up, she said. At 9 p.m., she went to police.

A youth protection official took the children the next day.

Immigration consultant Sudarshan Shahi, who helped Kaur obtain refugee and landed immigrant status, said she hoped for a better life in Canada.

"This was a serious, heinous crime," Shahi said.

Kaur left India after being raped and falsely accused of being linked to Sikh terrorists, Shahi said.

Apart from three distant cousins living in Ontario and British Columbia, Kaur was without family in Canada.

"We called her Laddi. It's her nickname," Ravinder Bains of Vancouver said.

As soon as the office opens Wednesday, Kaur's parents will apply for a visa from the Canadian High Commission in Chandighar in Punjab, about 80 kilometres from their house, he said.

Another cousin, Gurjodhpal Singh, who stayed with Kaur and Cheema for three months while doing an MBA course at McGill University, said yesterday in a telephone interview from India that Kaur's parents are in shock.

Kaur met Cheema in Park Extension, where they both lived, Singh said.

The first four months of the marriage went well, but Singh said his cousin confided in her mother that she was not happy.

Cheema, who is not a Canadian citizen, married Kaur "because he was desperate to get citizenship papers," Singh said.

Kaur's parents "are worried about the kids, " he said. "They want to come there and take care of them."

The funeral and cremation are to be held today. Kaur's parents will not be attending.

"We don't have visa," said Kaur's grieving father, Gurmeet Singh, who could barely speak for the tears.

cfidelman@thegazette.canwest.com