Immigration
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March 17, 2026
SCC heard more cases in 2025 but still fewer than pre-pandemic; number expected to rise in 2026
The Supreme Court of Canada heard more appeals last year than in 2024 and delivered its reserved judgments more quickly, but its hearings and output in 2025 were not yet up to pre-pandemic levels, according to the top court, which states it “expects to hear even more cases in 2026.”
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March 17, 2026
Immigration petitions: Premium processing vs. ‘regular’ adjudication
These days, to get a timely adjudication on any U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) petition, filers need to be looking at the possibility of paying the extra US$2,965 to the U.S. government for expedited adjudication, under the agency’s “Premium Processing” option. This is because “regular” adjudication typically takes months — and in some cases, years — for most case types. This means your entire immigrant or nonimmigrant process, and accordant status, can be held up by lengthy adjudication times, limiting work options and/or the ability to travel in the meantime.
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March 16, 2026
Family reunification: Understanding family class sponsorship applications
At its core, Canadian immigration policy recognizes that relationships and family bonds should be prioritized and protected. Family reunification has long stood as one of the central pillars of Canada’s immigration framework, shaping both legislation and policy. A family class application is not simply an administrative process; it is an affirmation of commitment and an essential step towards a family building a future together in Canada.
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March 13, 2026
Feds reboot new police powers, obligations to give police & CSIS ‘lawful access’ to digital data
Following public outcry and stiff political opposition to its sweeping “strong borders” omnibus bill (Bill C-2), the minority Liberal government has migrated the expanded “lawful access” powers and new obligations for electronic service providers to assist police and CSIS investigators from C-2 into standalone legislation (Bill C-22).
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March 13, 2026
Feds announce new immigration measure in Quebec under International Mobility Program
The federal government has announced a new “temporary measure” to assist the Government of Quebec retain skilled workers on “their pathway to permanent residence.”
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March 13, 2026
Privacy commissioner finds no privacy contravention in ArriveCan app investigation
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada tabled a special report on the investigation into the development of the ArriveCan app in Parliament on March 12, finding there was no contravention of the Privacy Act.
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March 13, 2026
Cross-border clarity: How U.S. franchise reform could affect Canadian brands
The American Franchise Act (AFA), a bipartisan bill currently moving through U.S. Congress, could help bring clarity to franchising as a business model, with implications for Canadian operators.
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March 12, 2026
Feds provide update on assisting Canadians out of the Middle East
Canada has provided an update on the situation in the Middle East, outlining its efforts to help Canadians return home or depart to a safe third country.
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March 12, 2026
Health Canada adds five fentanyl precursors to list of permanent controlled substances
Health Canada’s addition next month of five chemicals to the list of permanent controlled substances that are precursors to the manufacture of fentanyl prompted a question to Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, asking why Canada, unlike the U.K. and the U.S., does not also list under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) the animal tranquillizers that frequently contaminate fentanyl.
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March 11, 2026
CFIB warns 1.3M expiring work permits will increase labour challenges
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is warning that more than 1.3 million work permits, including those for temporary foreign workers (TFWs), are set to expire by the end of 2026, which it says will significantly threaten economic and labour challenges.