Each year, between 50K and 60K migrant farm workers come to Canada. But are their working conditions in violation of the Charter? “The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.”- Cesar Chavez, civil rights and farm labour activist Chavez uttered those words in 1970 in the … [Read more...]
What To Do If Your Visa or Immigration Application is Delayed
In the event of an undue processing delay, applicants can follow-up with the IRCC in several ways before requesting an Order of Mandamus from Federal Court. People who want to study, work or immigrate to Canada must submit a complete and accurate application package to Immigration, Refugee and … [Read more...]
Pandemic Impacts Spur Immigration Changes
Even as COVID-19 continues to pose challenges, the flow of immigrants into Canada will continue. Among the proverbial game-changers in the life of the world, COVID-19 was a big one. The pandemic forced change to happen. We saw the vaccination of increasing numbers of people, the provision of … [Read more...]
Bench Press 38-1: Test for Refugees
Rachidi Ezokola worked for eight years for the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, four of them as a UN diplomat. He moved to Montreal in 2008 with his wife and eight children and asked for refugee status, claiming that he had received death threats from Congolese intelligence agents. … [Read more...]
Tax Issues for New Canadians
While there are many attractions to Canada, I cannot recall anyone attracted by a desire to experience our income tax system! Like most developed tax systems, ours can be extremely complex, and can impose results perceived as neither just nor equitable. Many tax issues are unique to new Canadians, … [Read more...]
Permanent Residents and Residency Obligation
People from all over the world make applications to come to the promised land of Canada. They may come via many categories of immigration, including Family Class, Skilled Worker Class, Entrepreneur Class, Investor Class, Self-Employed Class, Canadian Experience Class, or Refugee Class. Once they … [Read more...]
Calgary Legal Guidance Immigration Program
Navigating the complex web of immigration laws in Canada can be a challenging task for even the most seasoned legal counsel. Now imagine trying to steer through these complex processes alone, after arriving in a foreign country with little money and limited English skills. With cuts to Legal Aid, … [Read more...]
Immigrate or Emigrate: A Life-Long Journey
I migrated. That is, I moved from point A to point B and “never the twain shall meet”—Rudyard Kipling from The Ballad of East and West. Did I emigrate or did I immigrate? Did I move away or did I reach my destination? The topic of immigration is full of paradoxes that take a lifetime to satisfy. … [Read more...]
Who is Family? A Look at Canadian and U.S. Immigration Law on the Definition of Qualifying Relatives
In 1979, the American disco group, Sister Sledge, sang, “We Are Family. I got all my sisters with me.” By contrast, under both Canadian and U.S. immigration law, determining who is a family member that can achieve an immigration status based upon a family relationship can prove challenging. The … [Read more...]