Truck Driver in Humboldt Bus Crash Ordered to be Deported

The truck driver who caused the fatal Humboldt Broncos Junior Hockey Bus crash has been ordered deported to India.

An immigration and Refugee Board hearing was held virtually on Friday in Calgary for Jaskirat Singh Sidhu. “I can’t consider humanitarian and compassionate factors,” Trent Cook from the Immigration division of the board, who oversaw the hearing told Sidhu.

“My sole role today is to make a finding on whether the minister has established the facts that support their allegation that you’re inadmissible for serious criminality. I am satisfied that the minister’s report is well founded. I am required by law to issue you with a deportation order.”

Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, who is originally from India, was released on full parole in 2023 after being sentenced to eight years in prison for dangerous driving. The accident resulted in the death of sixteen people and thirteen were injured when the lorry crashed against the hockey team bus on a rural road in Saskatchewan.

In 2019, Sidhu pleaded guilty to 16 counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle leading to death and 13 leading to injury. Sidhu had reportedly run through a stop sign before colliding with the bus.

Sidhu’s lawyer, Michael Greene, said he was not surprised at the ruling, as Sidhu is not a Canadian citizen. “That happened,” said Greene. “There’s no contest, which is why we conceded those points and it was over and done with within a matter of minutes.”

Sidhu is originally from India, and moved to Canada in 2014. Greene has promised to fight against Sidhu’s deportation. He also said he plans to file an application asking the government to return Sidhu’s permanent resident status on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Visit www.africanpridemagazine.com for more