Can old DUIs keep you out of Canada?

[Teach]

In relation to Bush’s 24-year-old DUI, ABC News is reporting that he would technically be banned from entering Canada. Say what? I’ve entered Canada from the States a couple of times with a not-so-old DUI on my record. Do they really turn people away at the border if they’ve got a drunken driving conviction on their record? Has this ever happened to anyone here?

[bare]

Yes, any DUI is considered a felony in Canada and if you are asked at the border or if it shows up when they check you out you will be refused entry. You can buy your way in on an individual basis.

[absoul]

Odd, my friend had a DUI and he was denied entery into Canada. The border gaurd, that turned us away, stated that he would not be allowed to enter for 7 years after the last offense.

[bibliophage]

The same ABC news article linked to above says both Clinton and Gore could theoretically be barred from Canada because they have admitted to smoking marijuana. I know for a fact that Clinton has been to Canada since being elected, and I think Gore probably has been there too.

I have to wonder when the Immigration Act of Canada came into force (I couldn’t figure it out myself), and whether the ban applies to drunk-driving convictions that predate the Act. I hope our resident expert on Canadian law, jti, will be along soon to answer all our questions.

From the Text of the Act in pdf format (Almost certainly not copyrighted).

[19 (2)] No immigrant and, except as provided in subsection (3), no visitor shall be
granted admission if the immigrant or visitor is a member of any of the
following classes:
…

(a.1) persons who there are reasonable grounds to believe
(i) have been convicted outside Canada of an offence that, if committed in
Canada, would constitute an offence that may be punishable by way of indictment
under any Act of Parliament by a maximum term of imprisonment of less than ten
years, or
(ii) have committed outside Canada an act or omission that constitutes an
offence under the laws of the place where the act or omission occurred and that,
if committed in Canada, would constitute an offence that may be punishable by
way of indictment under any Act of Parliament by a maximum term of imprisonment
of less than ten years,
except persons who have satisfied the Minister that they have rehabilitated
themselves and that at least five years have elapsed since the expiration of any
sentence imposed for the offence or since the commission of the act or omission,
as the case may be;
…
(3) A senior immigration officer or an adjudicator, as the case may be, may
grant entry to any person who is a member of an inadmissible class described in
subsection (2) subject to such terms and conditions as the officer or
adjudicator deems appropriate and for a period not exceeding thirty days, where,
in the opinion of the officer or adjudicator, the purpose for which entry is
sought justifies admission.