Immigration
-
May 28, 2025
Pitfalls in tribunal adjudication of mental health matters: Issues identified by reviewing courts
This past month, two different reviewing courts have provided very similar guidance to two different mental health tribunals in Ontario. On April 24, 2025, the Court of Appeal for Ontario found that Ernest Clayton’s fitness review hearing before the Ontario Review Board constituted a miscarriage of justice and must be reconsidered afresh. Similarly, on May 21, 2025, the Superior Court of Justice returned a review of Arlene Hastick’s Community Treatment Order to the Consent and Capacity Board for re-hearing on the basis that she was denied procedural fairness.
-
May 28, 2025
Canada’s new immigration minister: A legal and policy perspective
Following the formation of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new Liberal government, Lena Metlege Diab has been appointed Canada’s minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship. She replaces Rachel Bendayan and brings to the role a formidable blend of legal expertise and political leadership experience.
-
May 27, 2025
Throne speech states Carney government’s ‘core mission is to build the strongest economy in the G7’
Delivering Canada’s speech from the throne for the first time, King Charles III outlined the Carney Liberal government’s plans to make Canada’s economy the most robust in the G7, including by driving the country’s emergence as an energy superpower and by removing internal trade barriers and other roadblocks to creating big national projects and large-scale affordable housing.
-
May 27, 2025
CFIB releases data on barriers to interprovincial labour mobility
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has released its annual report card on domestic trade, highlighting “inconsistent regulations and standards restricting labour mobility across the country.”
-
May 26, 2025
U.S. extraordinary ability work permits and green cards
If you desire to go to the U.S. and have some notoriety in your work or field of expertise, one option is to pursue a non-immigrant or immigrant visa based on your extraordinary ability. The bar for what constitutes “extraordinary ability” is possibly lower than one might think, but higher than one might prefer.
-
May 22, 2025
Opening Iran to tourism and technology: Economic potential, strategic implications
This article examines the transformative potential of opening Iran’s tourism and technology sectors to international investment and co-operation.
-
May 20, 2025
Saskatchewan conference examines role of tribunal counsel
Tribunal counsel must give legal advice that is neutral, remain “independent of the parties” involved and not be seen as influencing an outcome, said a veteran administrative lawyer during a Saskatchewan conference.
-
May 16, 2025
Federal Court extends deadlines for immigration JRs due to surging cases, inadequate gov’t funding
Contending with far too many immigration cases for its tight budget, the Federal Court this week extended by 45 days its regulation 30-day deadlines for litigants to perfect their applications for leave and judicial review of immigration decisions (ALJRs). Why? Because the registry’s beleaguered staff simply can’t keep up, and now often needs weeks rather than days to intake and process the ALJRs — which have more than quadrupled the average volume the court experienced over the five years immediately preceding the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
-
May 16, 2025
Major immigration policy challenges for Carney government
As Mark Carney begins his term as prime minister, the government faces numerous immigration-related challenges. From the growing influx of international students, rising refugee claims, immigration fraud, ongoing delays in application processing, and mounting backlogs, each issue demands thoughtful, strategic solutions. Addressing these pressing concerns will be key to shaping a more efficient, fair and sustainable immigration system.
-
May 15, 2025
Ottawa welcomes ‘historic’ international ruling that Russia shot down Malaysian civilian airliner
As Canada pursues a separate case against Iran at the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) — for the illegal downing of a Ukrainian civilian airliner in 2020 — Ottawa said it “welcomes” the ICAO’s recent determination that the Russian Federation shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014, in breach of Russia’s obligations under international law.