The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) has initiated legal proceedings against federal government ministers to protect newcomers' right to legal representation.

The lawsuit challenges current practices where federal departments often exclude hired counsel from correspondence with applicants.

CILA argues this infringement costs taxpayers millions in avoidable litigation and disadvantages newcomers in the application process.

The organization seeks declarations from the Federal Court to formally recognize the right to counsel in all immigration processes, potentially leading to significant legislative and policy reforms.

#immigrant_rights, #legal_representation, #cila_litigation, #newcomers_to_canada, #federal_court, #right_to_counsel, #immigration_lawyers, #canada_immigration, #charter_rights