A Pakistani immigrant who was ordered deported for causing a fatal multi-vehicle collision on a major Ontario highway has been granted another opportunity to remain in Canada through a Federal Court decision.
The Tragic Highway Incident
On January 27, 2018, a devastating chain-reaction crash occurred in the Toronto-bound lanes of the Queen Elizabeth Way near Cawthra Road in Mississauga. The collision, which involved five vehicles, resulted in the death of a 22-year-old woman and caused severe injuries to several other individuals.
According to court documents, the incident unfolded around 10 p.m. when Yasir Baig became enraged after another driver flashed their high beams and honked at him. This anger led to dangerous driving behavior that triggered the catastrophic crash.
Legal Proceedings and Deportation Order
Baig fled the scene immediately following the collision but surrendered to police authorities twelve days later. In October 2022, the married father of three children pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death.
The court sentenced Baig to six months less a day in jail and imposed a 32-month driving prohibition. As a permanent resident of Canada, his criminal conviction triggered immigration proceedings that determined he was inadmissible to the country due to serious criminality.
On May 17, 2024, immigration officials issued a removal order against Baig, which would have resulted in his deportation from Canada after 17 months of legal battles.
Federal Court Overturns Deportation Decision
Baig appealed his case to the Immigration Appeal Division, seeking special relief on humanitarian and compassionate grounds that would allow him to maintain his permanent resident status. When that appeal was denied, he took his case to the Federal Court for judicial review.
In a decision dated November 3, Justice Anne Turley identified two critical errors in the Immigration Appeal Division's reasoning. The judge noted that the immigration panel failed to properly consider the Ontario Parole Board's assessment that Baig posed a very low risk to public safety and had minimal potential for reoffending.
Additionally, Justice Turley found that the immigration division did not adequately address the best interests of Baig's children, noting evidence that his wife and three children would accompany him to Pakistan if he were deported, facing significant hardship due to language barriers and lack of educational accommodations.
The Federal Court's decision means Baig's case will return to the Immigration Appeal Division for reconsideration, providing him with another chance to argue for remaining in Canada despite the tragic consequences of his actions.
