Internal documents reveal Canada's federal government is seeking sweeping powers to cancel visa applications en masse, specifically targeting fraud concerns from India and Bangladesh.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, working alongside the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. partners, has formed a working group to strengthen visa refusal and cancellation authorities.
The proposed legislation, now part of Bill C-12, has drawn criticism from over 300 civil society organizations, who warn it could enable mass deportations.
While Immigration Minister Lena Diab publicly cited pandemics and war as justifications, internal presentations identify country-specific visa holders as potential targets for mass cancellations.
#canada_immigration, #visa_cancellation, #bill_c12, #immigration_fraud, #ircc, #border_security, #refugee_rights
A recent Abacus Data survey of nearly 3,000 Canadians reveals that public opinion on immigration has plateaued after last year's surge in skepticism.
While roughly half of Canadians still view current immigration levels negatively and cite pressure on housing and healthcare, the data shows no further hardening of attitudes.
With 67% saying the federal government's 2026 target of 380,000 newcomers is too high – down from 72% a year ago – there's evidence that reduced targets may be easing some concerns.
As Ottawa prepares its upcoming budget, the findings highlight a public that remains cautious but not increasingly hostile, suggesting policymakers have room to rebuild trust if they can demonstrate immigration is being managed responsibly without straining essential services.
#canada_immigration, #abacus_data, #public_opinion, #housing_crisis, #federal_budget_2025, #immigration_targets
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has updated its regulatory framework as of October 31, allowing officials to consider additional factors when deciding whether to return applications before issuing nominations.
This amendment follows earlier changes introduced in July and gives the program greater flexibility to prioritize applications that align with Ontario's current workforce needs.
Applicants whose submissions are returned will receive full refunds of their application fees and will be notified directly by the program. The adjustment reflects Ontario's ongoing efforts to streamline its immigration processes while addressing provincial labour market demands.
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The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has announced significant changes to its document submission procedures, designating the My Case portal as the main channel for electronic filings.
Legal counsel and designated representatives working with the Refugee Protection Division and Refugee Appeal Division must now submit all documents through this secure platform.
Email submissions are no longer accepted for these divisions, while Canada Post Connect has been discontinued across all divisions. Fax submissions are also being phased out.
Self-represented claimants and appellants will receive gradual invitations to register for the portal, but may continue using email if preferred. Alternative submission methods will require divisional approval only in exceptional circumstances.
#irb_canada, #my_case_portal, #immigration_law, #refugee_protection_division, #document_submission, #canada_immigration, #rad, #rpd, #access_to_justice