The man responsible for the devastating Humboldt Broncos bus crash has been denied refugee status in Canada, bringing him one step closer to deportation. Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, the truck driver who caused the tragedy nearly eight years ago, received the ruling from the Immigration and Refugee Board this week.
This decision compels the Canada Border Services Agency to begin the process of returning Sidhu to India. His lawyer confirmed the news, stating an immediate deportation order is now legally mandated. However, a request for a deferral is already being prepared, hoping to delay his removal.
The board is still deliberating on a separate application seeking to restore Sidhu’s permanent resident status. This plea centers on deeply personal circumstances – the complex medical needs of his child – arguing for his continued presence in Canada on humanitarian grounds.
The horrific crash occurred on April 6, 2018, near Tisdale, Saskatchewan. Sidhu, a new truck driver, failed to stop at a flashing stop sign, colliding directly with the bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team.
The impact was catastrophic. Sixteen young lives were lost, and thirteen others were severely injured, shattering countless families and a community. The tragedy instantly became a national symbol of grief and a call for increased road safety.
Sidhu pleaded guilty to 29 charges in 2019, expressing profound remorse in court. He directly addressed the victims’ families, repeatedly apologizing and attributing the crash to his inexperience. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, alongside a deportation order.
Last year, a lawsuit filed by five families who lost loved ones was dismissed by a Saskatchewan judge. The suit targeted Sidhu, the trucking company, the provincial government, and the bus manufacturer, seeking accountability for the devastating loss.
The core of the families’ legal argument questioned whether governments bear responsibility for failing to address known dangers, specifically referencing the hazardous intersection where the collision occurred. Undeterred, the families are appealing the decision, taking their fight for justice to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal.
