On September 1, 2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced revisions to its list of designated countries/territories for the purposes of Section 30 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
According to R30, individuals who are seeking entry into Canada for a period of greater than six months and who have resided or sojourned, at any time during the one year period immediately preceding the date of seeking entry, for six consecutive months in a designated country/territory, are required to undergo an immigration medical examination. In addition, regardless of the intended period of stay in Canada, a foreign national who is seeking to work in Canada in an occupation in which the protection of public health is essential will require a medical examination if they are on the list of designated countries.
A designated country/territory is defined as a country/territory with a three year average estimated sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) incidence rate equal to or greater than 15/100,000. To be considered for removal from the designated country/territory list, a country or territory must remain below the average threshold for three consecutive years.
The following countries/territories will be added to the designated country/territory list: (1) Greenland, (2) Nauru, (3) Tuvalu, and (4) and Wallis Futuna. In addition, the following countries/territories will be removed from the designated country/territory list: (1) Ascencion, (2) Austral Islands, (3) Azores, (4) Bahamas, (5) Balearic Islands, (6) Bora Bora, (7) Bulgaria, (8) Canary Islands, (9) Chagos Archipelago, (10) Christmas Island, (11) Croatia, (12) Easter Island, (13) Estonia, (14) French Guiana, (15) Gambier Islands, (16) Huahine, (17) Iran, (18) Johnston Atoll, (19) Kerguelen Islands, (20) Loyalty Islands, (21) Macedonia, (22) Madeira, (23) Makatea, (24) Marquesas Islands, (25) Maupiti, (26) Mauritius, (27) Mexico, (28) Midway Island, (29) Montenegro, (30) New Caledonia, (31) Northern Sinai, (32) Oman, (33) Raiatea, (34) Reunion, (35) Saudi Arabia, (36) Serbia, (37) Singapore, (38) Society Archipelago, (39) St. Helena, (40) Syrian Arab Republic, (41) Tahaa, (42) Tahiti, (43) Tristan Da Cunha, (44) Tuamotu Archipelago, (45) Wake Island, and (46) West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Henry J. Chang
Blaney McMurtry LLP
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In some regions of the world medical services are primitive or non-existent. Also, in some places people do not believe in visiting a doctor until they are seriously ill.
A low incident of positive sputum test could either mean that the citizens are really TB free or it could be due to the country not doing enough testing.
How does the Govt of Canada rely on the statistics submitted by these territories?
PS: Henry – I know you are not a health professional and may not have an answer for me and hoping other readers of the forum do.