Via terror plot prompts tightening of pardoning rules

The federal government says it will take steps to deny people without status in Canada the possibility of a criminal pardon after reviewing the recent case of a man charged with terrorist offences.

The office of Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says it is unacceptable that inadmissible foreign nationals are able to get criminal record suspensions.

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The office says it is moving to ensure people without status in Canada cannot use what it considers a loophole in the law to abuse Canada's immigration system.

Raed Jaser, 35, of Toronto, and Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, of Montreal, face terrorism-related charges for allegedly plotting to derail a Via passenger train.

Jaser came to Canada with his family as a teenager in 1993 and ran into trouble with the law, but apparently obtained a criminal pardon, now known as a record suspension.

That allowed him to remain in Canada and eventually obtain landed immigrant status.