You are right. He needed a visa to get on the flight. However, my understanding of the refugee stuff is that one doesn't actually need to enter the country. You're not inside the country till after the border guard has waved you through; but you can still ask for protection while at the border. He's probably still in detention, which doesn't really count as being in the country in my book. He used the mask to try and get protection, not simply enter Canada. Very different motive.

This is descending into analty, so I'll stop now :)