Immigration

  • October 29, 2026

    Fraudulent & unauthorized paid immigration & citizenship reps face up to $1.5M in penalties

    New penalties of up to $1.5 million are now in force for those who break the law when providing paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation — including licensed immigration consultants, lawyers and other authorized representatives, as well as people who give paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation without authorization.

  • October 29, 2026

    What are grounds of inadmissibility? How U.S. bars to re-entry and waivers work

    A ground of inadmissibility is a legal reason, set out in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), that bars a foreign national from entering the United States. Did you know that every time a foreign national enters the U.S., a U.S. CBP officer makes a determination on whether the officer believes there is a relevant ground of inadmissibility that applies? If the officer determines that there is, U.S. immigration law prevents him or her from permitting that foreign national to enter the U.S.

  • October 28, 2026

    A legal system for the rich, and one (of sorts) for the poor

    Let’s face it folks. Our legal system caters to the rich and, on occasion, the middle class. Most of society cannot afford good lawyers and are on their own navigating our legal system. There is a simple reason for this. Lawyers like to earn good money. It is impossible to do that serving clients who cannot afford to pay hundreds — or thousands — of dollars an hour.

  • October 28, 2026

    Express Entry without LMIA: What changes on Nov. 3, where the integrity risks sit

    Starting Nov. 3, an Express Entry candidate can earn up to 100 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation, and the offer no longer needs a labour market impact assessment (LMIA).

  • October 27, 2026

    Legal Aid Plans of Canada celebrates duty counsel’s impact on A2J

    Oct. 27 marks Duty Counsel Day, a nationwide initiative led by the Association of Legal Aid Plans of Canada. The day is observed to “recognize the essential role duty counsel lawyers play in helping people navigate the justice system and access legal support when they need it most.”

  • October 27, 2026

    Court allows judicial review after immigration documents sent to wrong email addresses

    The Federal Court has allowed a judicial review of an immigration application denial in a case where documents were sent to the wrong departmental email multiple times.

  • October 27, 2026

    Canada’s temporary-entry system needs a security reset

    Recent terrorism allegations and official audits show why Canada needs better identity verification, intelligence sharing and follow-through, and two recent cases illustrate the stakes in Canada’s immigration-security system.

  • October 23, 2026

    Comprehensive guide to corporate immigration pathways: Corporate immigration to Quebec

    Quebec runs its own immigration system, separate from the federal government, with distinct rules that reflect the province’s focus on French-language integration and low overall immigration levels. For corporations, this means that options to hire and retain foreign workers are more limited than in the rest of Canada, and processes often involve additional provincial steps.

  • October 23, 2026

    Court of Appeal for Ontario reframes long-standing test for leave to appeal

    For the first time in more than 50 years, the Court of Appeal for Ontario has updated its test for leave to appeal from a decision of the Divisional Court. In Knauff v. Ontario (Human Rights Tribunal), 2026 ONCA 653, a five-judge panel confirmed that the test for leave is whether the proposed appeal raises an arguable question of law or mixed law and fact that is of sufficient public importance to warrant consideration by the Court of Appeal.

  • October 22, 2026

    Express Entry reset: How 2026 selection changes will reshape applicant prospects

    Canada’s Express Entry system is undergoing its most consequential recalibration in several years. The 2026 changes operate on two levels: an expanded and more demanding category-based selection framework introduced in February, and a significant redesign of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that will take effect on Nov. 3, 2026.

  • October 22, 2026

    Comprehensive guide to corporate immigration pathways: Temporary Foreign Worker Program

    The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is one of Canada’s central pathways for employers to hire foreign talent when no Canadians or permanent residents are available to fill a position. Unlike the International Mobility Program, which is LMIA-exempt, the TFWP requires employers to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before a foreign worker can be hired. This LMIA process ensures that the employment of a foreign national will not negatively affect Canadian workers.

  • October 21, 2026

    Royal commission on immigration would promote public understanding, dialogue and law reform: expert

    A royal commission or national commission of inquiry into immigration could boost Canadians’ understanding of hot-button immigration issues and generate positive public dialogue as well as needed policy reforms, says an expert on Quebec’s uniquely autonomous immigration regime that sparks envy from other provincial leaders.

  • October 20, 2026

    Comprehensive guide to corporate immigration pathways: International Mobility Program

    The International Mobility Program (IMP) is one of the most important corporate immigration pathways in Canada. Unlike the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the IMP allows employers to bring in foreign workers without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This exemption saves time, reduces costs and makes the process far more flexible for companies looking to attract or transfer global talent.

  • October 19, 2026

    Clark Wilson adds construction, immigration lawyer in Vancouver

    Stephanie Zhang has joined Clark Wilson’s construction and infrastructure practice in Vancouver.

  • October 19, 2026

    The demise of the international student boom

    Canada’s international student boom is ending more quickly — and more painfully — than many governments and post-secondary institutions expected. Colleges are cancelling programs, universities are freezing hiring, campuses are being consolidated and communities that built businesses, housing projects and employment around a constantly expanding student population are confronting a sharp demand shock.

  • October 19, 2026

    McGill law student’s murder conviction could serve as valuable rehabilitation lessons

    Law students should learn from the difficult realities of rehabilitation. A controversy at McGill University law school raises questions about campus safety, reintegration and the educational value of confronting the criminal justice system.

  • October 16, 2026

    Screening regime for sexual history evidence can apply in human trafficking, ‘sexual services’ cases: SCC

    For the first time, the Supreme Court of Canada has explained when and how the Criminal Code’s s. 276 rules limiting the admissibility and use of evidence of complainants’ sexual history apply in prosecutions for non-enumerated sexual exploitation crimes, such as human trafficking and selling “sexual services.”

  • October 16, 2026

    Ottawa adds Express Entry points for high-wage occupations, drops LMIA requirements

    The federal government has announced changes to the Express Entry system to prioritize candidates for permanent residence with eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.

  • October 16, 2026

    Manitoba assault appeal reinforces importance of transparency in sentencing

    The Manitoba Court of Appeal has upheld a sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community for a man convicted of criminal harassment, unlawfully entering a dwelling house, sexual assault and assault against his former intimate partner (R. v. B.S.H., 2026 MBCA 70). The decision recognizes the seriousness of domestic and sexual violence while reaffirming the deference owed to sentencing judges.

  • October 16, 2026

    Comprehensive guide to corporate immigration pathways: Provincial Nominee Programs

    As we discussed in the first article in this series, Canada’s economy depends heavily on immigration, and corporations play a central role in shaping the flow of talent into the country. In that regard, Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) give provinces and territories the ability to select immigrants who meet their local labour-market needs.

  • October 15, 2026

    McCarthy Tétrault adds 2 partners to expand tax practice

    McCarthy Tétrault has welcomed Brandon Wiener and Milan Vukovic as partners in its national tax group in Toronto.

  • October 15, 2026

    Understanding the doctrine of consular non-reviewability in the visa application process

    You’ve applied for a visa. You go to your appointment thinking this is fairly routine, and you’ve been approved for visas in the past. No reason to worry or be concerned, you think. But when you appear for your interview, they are asking new questions. They ask about the purpose and timing of your trip in more detail.

  • October 15, 2026

    EXCLUSION (INADMISSIBLE PERSONS) - Grounds for inadmissibility - Human or international rights violations

    Appeal by Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (Minister) from the Federal Court judgment granting the respondent’s application for judicial review of the Immigration Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada’s (Immigration Division) decision finding him inadmissible and ordering his deportation.

  • October 13, 2026

    SCC’s historic female majority ended after just 2 women applied for top court’s western vacancy

    Only two women applied for the latest Supreme Court of Canada vacancy, filled by Manitoba’s Glenn Joyal, whose appointment last June restored a 5-4 male majority, ending the high court’s first female majority on the top bench.

  • October 09, 2026

    Comprehensive guide to corporate immigration pathways: Express Entry

    Canada’s economy depends heavily on immigration, and corporations play a central role in shaping the flow of talent into the country. For employers, as you will see in this multipart series, immigration is not only about filling immediate vacancies but also about building long-term competitiveness, transferring global expertise and anchoring international operations in Canadian communities.