Immigration

  • May 06, 2026

    Feds announce new regulations to enhance oversight of immigration, citizenship consultants

    The federal government has announced new regulations to “enhance the oversight of immigration and citizenship consultants in Canada.” According to a government release, issued May 6, these measures will “reinforce the role of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants and help applicants obtain more reliable, transparent and accountable services throughout their immigration or citizenship process.”

  • May 06, 2026

    Interim post-graduation work authorization: The difference between ‘expiry’ and ‘invalidity’

    International graduates usually move from study to work through the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) program. A recurring legal uncertainty arises where a graduate completes their studies, more than 90 days pass, and the expiry date printed on the study permit has not yet arrived. If the graduate applies for a PGWP before that printed expiry date and receives an IMM 0127/WP-EXT for PGWP letter confirming work authorization under paragraph 186(w) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, SOR/2002-227, can the graduate work?

  • May 05, 2026

    Former SCC justice Louise Arbour named Canada’s next governor general

    Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that former Supreme Court of Canada justice Louise Arbour will become Canada’s next governor general. Arbour will become the first former judge of the top court to take on the vice-regal role.

  • May 04, 2026

    Helen Fiallos named partner at Pilkington

    Pilkington Law Firm LLP has promoted Helen Fiallos to partner in its Guelph, Ont., office.

  • May 04, 2026

    Feds accelerating permanent residence for 33K workers

    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced progress on the one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative, which aims to accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 workers to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027.

  • May 04, 2026

    Queen Mamma serves up important lessons on franchise renewal and termination

    A recent Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision offers an important reminder for franchisors and franchisees alike: informal renewal arrangements can create significant legal uncertainty.

  • May 01, 2026

    SCC upholds limits on parliamentary privilege of National Security & Intelligence Committee members

    The Supreme Court of Canada has rejected 8-1 a law professor’s constitutional challenge to s. 12 of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) Act, which eliminates all parliamentary privilege immunity claims that might otherwise have been advanced by committee members or ex-members in defending themselves against allegations that they improperly disclosed information obtained through their role on the statutory committee that oversees Canada’s national security and intelligence apparatus.

  • May 01, 2026

    Bar says it ‘likely’ will appeal B.C. ruling that lawyer independence doesn’t require self-regulation

    Heralding a significant shift in the Canadian legal landscape, the British Columbia Supreme Court has rejected the legal profession’s constitutional challenge to the B.C. Legal Professions Act — legislation that would end more than 150 years of lawyer self-governance and self-regulation by benchers elected from the provincial bar.

  • April 30, 2026

    Social media review for visa applicants and travellers: An update

    Increasingly, U.S. government entities appear to be utilizing technology to screen visa and other immigration benefit applicants. In some cases, this has become very public and transparent. For example, most people are aware that phones and other electronic devices can be screened when coming into the United States.

  • April 28, 2026

    Ottawa’s economic update proposes apprentice wage subsidies, tax & criminal changes to build ‘Canada Strong’

    The Carney government says it plans to make it a criminal offence to operate a cryptocurrency automated teller machine (ATM) and that it will push ahead with controversial amendments to enable “law enforcement” to search and seize mail.