Weekly Digest | June 16, 2024

Key Highlights:

Recent Immigration Case Law
Hong Kong Residents Pathways
Extension of Support for Israeli and Palestinian Nationals and Family
Cancellation of Immigration Documents
Ontario Secures Global Nuclear Agreements
Ontario Invests in Skilled Trades Training Youth
Atlantic Canadians Impacted by Federal Workforce Funding Cuts
Warning of Fraudulent Immigration Documents in Newfoundland and Labrador
Saskatchewan’s Tourism Industry
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program Updates
International Credentials in British Columbia
Latest PNP Draws

Recent Case Law

C11 Work Permit: In Talebali, 2024 FC 867, the Federal Court granted the judicial review of an Iranian entrepreneur’s denied C11 work permit to open a poultry business in Ontario. The court found the decision unreasonable due to the officer’s failure to address contradictory evidence in the detailed business plan, including market analyses. The rationale lacked transparency, particularly regarding the use of open-source information and market competition claims. Read more

Study Permit: In Izokun, 2024 FC 875, the Federal Court dismissed the judicial review of a Nigerian national’s denied study permit application. The visa officer concluded that the applicant would not leave Canada at the end of his stay and questioned his financial stability to support himself and his family while attending Red River College Polytechnic in Winnipeg. The court found the decision reasonable as the officer thoroughly assessed the applicant’s financial resources, including bank statements and assets, and found them insufficient and inadequately documented. The officer’s decision, which also questioned the origin and stability of a significant family gift (USD $35,000), was upheld as it was within the parameters of reasonable administrative decisions concerning study permits. Read more

Program Delivery Updates

Hong Kong Residents Pathways: Effective June 10, 2024, Hong Kong residents applying for permanent residence in Canada will receive an acknowledgment letter post-completeness check. Updated intake instructions and additional details on calculating qualifying work experience for Stream B have been provided. Key guidance sections include intake procedures and evaluation against public policy eligibility. Read more

Temporary Public Policies

Support for Family Members of Canadians Who Left Israel/Palestinian Territories – Extension: Canada has extended the policy for foreign national family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories after October 7, 2023. Eligible individuals in Canada may apply for fee-exempt extensions, study permits, and open work permits to access education and the labour market. This policy is effective from June 13, 2024, and expires on July 31, 2025. Read more

Support for Israeli and Palestinian Temporary Residents in Canada – Extension: Canada has extended the policy for Israeli nationals and those with Palestinian Authority documents in Canada as temporary residents. Eligible individuals can apply for fee-exempt extensions, study permits, and open work permits to access education and the labour market. This policy is effective from June 13, 2024, and expires on July 31, 2025. Read more

Canada Gazette Update

Cancellation of Immigration Documents: The Government of Canada has initiated a 30-day consultation ending July 15, 2024, on proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. These amendments seek to simplify the cancellation process for temporary resident documents like visas, eTAs, work permits, and study permits, by providing clear guidelines for cancellations due to eligibility, admissibility, and administrative errors. This aims to enhance efficiency and transparency in migration management, supporting the health, safety, and security of Canadians. Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 158, Number 24: Read more

Provincial Government News

Ontario Secures Global Nuclear Agreements, Boosting Local Employment: On June 13, 2024, Ontario announced significant new nuclear agreements resulting from trade missions to Romania and France, totaling $360 million. These deals, part of Ontario’s expansion in nuclear energy, promise to create many jobs and advance the province’s nuclear supply chain, reinforcing Ontario’s status as a key player in the global nuclear sector. These initiatives include the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and large-scale projects at Darlington and Bruce Power sites, projecting substantial employment growth and economic benefits for Ontario. Read more

Ontario Invests in Skilled Trades Training Youth: Ontario is dedicating over $4.7 million through the Skills Development Fund to support training for 2,318 young people, including immigrants, in the Niagara Region, preparing them for in-demand skilled trades careers. This initiative includes partnerships with local organizations to provide technical and workplace readiness training in areas like digital marketing and IT. These programs aim to diversify the skilled workforce by offering accessible, debt-free training options that lead to well-paying jobs, addressing labor shortages in the region. Read more

Atlantic Canadians Impacted by Federal Workforce Funding Cuts: On June 6, 2024, Atlantic Workforce Ministers demanded the Federal Government reverse a $625 million cut to Labour Market Transfer Agreements (LMTAs) from the 2024 Budget. This cut affects workforce programs supporting immigrants and other groups in training and employment in sectors like construction, childcare, and healthcare. Read more Nova Scotia: Read more

Public Advisory: Warning of Fraudulent Immigration Documents in Newfoundland and Labrador: The Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills warns the public about fraudulent documents falsely claimed to be issued by the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism. These include counterfeit Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) nomination certificates, Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) endorsement certificates, and letters of support for work permits. Genuine documents are sent as password-protected PDFs via email, and all services by the Office are free, including certificates and application processing. Read more

Saskatchewan’s Tourism Industry: Recent data show significant growth in Saskatchewan’s tourism industry. In 2023, tourism expenditures reached $2.85 billion, up from $2.4 billion in 2022, with increased hotel occupancy rates. Domestic travel saw a 21% rise in overnight visits, the highest in Canada. U.S. travel to Saskatchewan increased by 54%, with air arrivals up 46% due to a new Minneapolis-Saskatoon route. Fishing and hunting license sales rose by 26%. These figures align with the Saskatchewan Growth Plan’s target of a 50% increase in annual tourism expenditures by 2030, aiming for $3.6 billion. Read more

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program Updates: Effective June 11, 2024, Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has new guidelines for the Alberta Opportunity Stream, Rural Renewal Stream, and Accelerated Tech Pathway, aligning with those in the Tourism and Hospitality Stream for the remainder of 2024. Processing times have been updated accordingly. Application acceptance dates and targets are approximate, influenced by factors like application volume, economic needs, allocations, and planning. Read more

International Credentials in British Columbia: Effective July 1, 2024, the International Credentials Recognition Act will simplify and expedite the process for internationally educated professionals to have their credentials recognized in B.C. The act, developed with input from 18 regulatory bodies, will remove barriers for 29 professions, including engineers, social workers, and teachers. Key changes include eliminating unnecessary Canadian work experience requirements and ensuring similar fees for international and domestic applicants. A new superintendent will oversee the fair recognition of international credentials. Read more

Provincial Nominee Program Draws

Important Upcoming Dates

June 30, 2024: Consultations on the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, seeking public input on targets for permanent and temporary resident admissions, conclude; stakeholders can participate via an online survey until this date. Read more

July 2, 2024: Extension of Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in GTA ends. Read more

July 2, 2024: Economic development organizations interested in supporting growth in rural and Francophone minority communities must submit their applications using IRCC’s questionnaire by this deadline. Read more