4 Philippine Showbiz Today
April 22 - May 7, 2018
Groups call for repeal of medical inadmissibility rule
for immigrants in Canada
Organiza-
tions representing
key groups of im-
migrants excluded
from Canada due
to medical inad-
missibility are very
disappointed
in
the announcement
on April 16 by Im-
migration Minister
Ahmed Hussen
Ahmed Hussen for
not repealing Section 38(1)(c) of the
Immigration and Refugee Protection
Act.
This section of the immigra-
tion law denies permanent residency
to an entire family if a member of
the family is sick or has a disability
and deemed to pose an “excessive
demand” on health and social ser-
vices.
The groups said that it’s time to
end these discriminatory laws.
“Our advocacy resulted in a re-
view by the federal Standing Commit-
tee on Citizenship and Immigration
in 2017, which ultimately echoed our
recommendation for a full repeal. In-
stead of taking this principled posi-
tion, the Immigration Minister Hus-
sen today [April 16] announced only
minor tweaks to the existing, and
deeply flawed, regime,” the media
release states.
The groups are the Caregivers
Action Centre, Council of Canadians
With Disabilities, Canadian HIV/AIDS
Legal Network, and the Migrant
Workers Centre.
“Today’s announcement contin-
ues to uphold discriminatory medical
inadmissibility laws. Today’s changes
that promise to increase the cost
threshold and amend the definition
of social services, if properly imple-
mented, may ensure that many fu-
ture immigrants living with HIV and
some people with disabilities may no
longer be excluded,” according to
the media release.
“However, the underlying is-
sue remains: people with disabilities
continue to be considered as bur-
dens on Canadian society. Today’s
announcement also fails to address
retroactive cases, such that all of the
applicants currently in Canada who
are separated from family members
with disabilities remain in limbo.
“It is important to note that the
Parliamentary Standing Commit-
tee on Citizenship and Immigration,
which recommended the repeal of
the law in late 2017, noted that “sav-
ings [from this law] are not known
and were not provided to the Com-
mittee.” The Government of Cana-
da, while explicitly agreeing with the
Standing Committee’s recommen-
dation to repeal this legislation, has
failed to bring its policies in line with
inclusivity for persons with disabili-
ties and with Canada’s domestic and
international human rights obliga-
tions,” the media release states.●
Michael V meets Avengers stars , gave 15-minute portraits
Michael V not only had the rare weekend where he will be having one- it involves a certain group called not for naught, too, as Michael V
chance to personally meet the stars on-one interviews with the exemplary AVENGERS! … I hope it doesn’t shared yesterday, April 15, a picture
of Avengers: Infinity War but he also cast of the upcoming film “Avengers: take me an INFINITY to finish it! of Cumberbatch himself holding up
his sketch. “This is exactly how I ‘pic-
had the opportunity to give their Infinity War”, as he excitedly shared #AvengersPH #15MinuteSketch.”
sketches that he did for them.
In another post last Saturday, tured’ I’d end my day…” Michael V
his drawings.
The GMA-7 actor-TV host re-
There’s always a first time for April 14, he shared a video clip of wrote.
And just this morning, Michael V
cently went to Singapore to interview everything!” Michael V wrote on his him sketching “Nebula”. He wrote,
the stars of the Marvel superhero Instagram last Friday, April 13, as he “I’m doing a one-on-one interview shared another clip of him, this time
film.
shared a 15-minute sketch he made with director Joe Russo, Marvel pro- sketching Robert Downey, Jr. who
Perhaps not many may know it, of Benedict Cumberbatch. “I’m go- ducer Trinh Tran, Benedict Cumber- plays the titular role of “Iron Man”.
“Good Monday morning! This
but Michael V is so much more than ing to Singapore tomorrow to do batch and @karengillanofficial!”
just a funny man. Apart from being a a lot of ‘first time’ in my life and
His artistic undertakings were is the last #15MinuteSketch that I
did for the #AvengersPH Press
comedian, an actor, rap-
Junket,” wrote Michael V today,
per and director, perhaps,
April 16. “There’s a red carpet
he, too, should also put
event this afternoon and I’m
the title “visual artist” un-
REALLY hoping against hope
der his belt.
to give this to @robertdowneyjr
In the past few days,
himself. If all goes well, this will
Michael V has been shar-
be one of the highlights of #Bi-
ing on his Instagram ac-
toyStory 008, #TeamPH and
count his sketches of
my wife’s life. Kulitin si (call
“Avengers” stars Benedict
the attention of) RDJ! PLEASE
Cumberbatch and Karen
TAG HIM and wish me luck!”
Gillan, who play “Doctor
Hoping Michael V in-
Strange” and “Nebula”
deed gets to meet Robert
respectively in the Marvel
Downey, Jr. today and that he
Cinematic Universe.
may hand the star his sketch.
It seems Michael V
could not wait for his trip
Good luck, Bitoy!●
Michael V with Karen Gillan who plays “Nebula”, and right, Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays “Doctor Strange” in the Marvel
to Singapore over the
Cinematic Universe, holding up Michael V’s 15-minute sketch. Image: Instagram/@michaelbitoy
- C. Cepeda/JB, Inq.