“Nobody Likes a Cold Shower”: Economist Mikael Skuterud on How Canada Dismantled Its Skilled Immigration Advantage Overview In November 2024, economist Mikael Skuterud delivered opening remarks in a question-and-answer setting on the state of Canada’s immigration system. Professor Skuterud introduced himself as “a professor of economics at the University of Waterloo, the director of the Canadian Labour
The Carney government’s newly announced immigration levels plan sets a headline baseline of 380,000 permanent resident admissions for 2027. That figure has dominated media coverage. There’s some smoke and some mirrors here. That number 380,000 is about 1% of the population which was the ‘standard’ pre-COVID surge. Layered on top, however, are substantial apparently time-limited
When the Minister says yes after the CBSA says no By Raj Sharma, LL.M. Author of Inadmissibility and Remedies ――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――― 1. A remedy that can feel out of reach Ministerial relief is one of those remedies that exists in the legislation but can feel out of reach in practice. For someone found inadmissible on security
Alberta has voted, on what appears to be a completely unnecessary referendum, and the immigration-related questions on the ballot did not produce the landslide many expected. For those of us who practise immigration law, the more interesting story is not the margin — it is the fact that these questions were put to a vote
December 2021: Podcast: Raj Sharma on Inadmissibility and the Sidhu Case Overview of the Podcast In this episode of the Welcome Home podcast—a show about Canadian immigration law brought to listeners by the Immigration Law Series from Emond Publishing—hosts Cathryn and Chantal welcome immigration lawyer Raj Sharma of Stewart Sharma Harsanyi for a wide-ranging conversation on
For a permanent resident convicted in Canada of serious criminality, and sentenced to six months or more in jail, the section 44 stage is usually the last place anyone can still decide not to remove them. Once the report is referred, the Immigration Division does not weigh the life in Canada. As indicated, if the
Canada’s temporary resident system has tightened. Economic permanent residence draws are harder to clear, transition pathways have narrowed, and a large cohort of students, workers, and other temporary residents is running out of status with fewer ordinary options. When those routes close, pressure moves to the discretionary ones. The humanitarian and compassionate inventory under section
Mandamus is often treated as an IRCC remedy: the stalled permanent residence file, the citizenship application lost in “background checks,” the study permit that never moves. However, the same writ can be used to compel the Refugee Protection Division to schedule a proceeding. Now this is relatively rare but we came across a file that
Navigating an appeal against a removal order before the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada requires a delicate balance of statutory law, legal precedent, and human narrative. When a long-term Permanent Resident faces deportation due to serious criminality, the hearing is rarely a battle over technicalities. Instead, it becomes
On September 11, 2026, the Federal Court granted judicial review in Anenya v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 1149. Madam Justice Aylen set aside a visa officer’s refusal of a privately sponsored overseas refugee application and sent the matter back for redetermination by a different officer. Bjorn Harsanyi, K.C., and the team at Stewart
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s public policy that facilitated Family Class sponsorship of certain previously undeclared family members expired on September 10, 2026. The measure was first introduced in 2019 as a temporary way to support family reunification where a sponsor had not declared or had not had examined a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner,
What kind of detail is needed in a PFL alleging misrepresentation concerns? The jurisprudence continues to evolve just how detailed a procedural fairness letter must be when misrepresentation is alleged. Justice Battista wants more than the minimum and for him the “gist” is not going to be enough for a misrepresentation concern. In a pair
Foreign nationals must maintain status and if status lapses, they have 90 days to file an application for restoration. If such application is filed, CBSA waits for the decision (an approach consistent with Sui v. MCI 2006 FC 1314) –see ENF 5 Writing 44(1) Reports, 9.6 Restoration of Status. If it’s not filed, even if
The Immigration Division (ID) of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) deals with two matters -admissibility hearings and detention reviews. Detention reviews are about balancing the liberty interests of the individual against the interests of society. However, and sometimes (luckily, not that often) even if you succeed in securing your client’s release, it’s not the
Consent by our lovely colleagues at the DoJ on a parent/grandparent refusal (an “incomplete” resume -with a gap some 45 years ago). The client had submitted a reconsideration with no luck. Thankfully the client had documented their efforts which allowed us to put together a complete record for the Court. We filed a JR against
When an individual is detained by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), it can be a highly stressful and confusing experience. However, detainees have the right to a detention review before the Immigration Division (ID) of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). You can think of a detention review as the immigration equivalent of a
At the 2026 CBA National Immigration Conference, I presented on the significant changes introduced by the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (formerly Bill C-12, which received royal assent on March 26, 2026). These amendments added two new bars to the referral of refugee claims to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). The rules
This is a recent case from the Federal Court canvassing the requirement that a H&C officer approach such applications with empathy and assess in line with the jurisprudence and the evidence presented. In this case, the applicant was a 65 year old Cuban grandmother. She sought H&C relief which was denied in late 2024; Justice
For tens of thousands of applicants, the Canadian immigration process has devolved into a digital “black hole.” You submit your application for Permanent Residency or Citizenship, only to watch the “In Progress” status bar remain frozen. It’s not just PR or Citizenship applications there’s been inordinate delay across business lines at IRCC (like work permit
