A Federal Court judge has delayed the deportation of Lebanese immigrant Mohamad Kassar, originally ordered in December 2019 after a fentanyl trafficking conviction, due to his possible lung cancer diagnosis. Justice Angus Grant emphasized Kassar’s medical vulnerability and the inadequacies of Lebanon’s healthcare system in addressing his chronic conditions. Despite the opioid crisis, the judge found that Kassar’s health needs warranted a deferment while his humanitarian and compassionate applications are pending. Kassar has been in Canada for about 35 years and was released on parole in June 2021 after serving time for his convictions.
