News updates

GH Immigration Svcs

Conservatives propose legislation to end sentencing leniency for non-citizen criminals in Canada

Conservatives are set to introduce legislation this fall aimed at eliminating judicial leniency for non-citizens convicted of serious crimes.

The proposed Criminal Code amendment would explicitly prohibit judges from considering immigration consequences when sentencing offenders. This follows controversial cases where non-citizens received reduced sentences to avoid deportation, including instances involving sexual offences against minors.

Michelle Rempel Garner argues that adherence to Canadian law should be a fundamental requirement for those seeking residency or citizenship, emphasizing that deportation for serious criminals protects both Canadians and the integrity of the immigration system.

#criminal_justice, #deportations, #conservative_legislation, #non_citizen_criminals, #immigration_law, #judicial_sentencing, #public_safety, #criminal_code_amendment, #citizenship_rights

August 15, 2025

Economists urge Canada to include 500,000 undocumented residents in immigration planning

As Immigration Minister Lena Diab develops the forthcoming immigration targets for 2025-2027, economic experts are advocating for the inclusion of an estimated 500,000 undocumented residents in Canada's population calculations.

CIBC's deputy chief economist Benjamin Tal emphasized that accurate population data is "a necessary condition" for effective immigration, housing, and economic policies.

The Government of Canada previously committed to creating pathways for undocumented workers, including a proposed program for 6,000 construction workers announced in March, but implementation remains pending amid ongoing consultations.

#undocumented_residents, #immigration_targets, #permanent_residency, #housing

August 15, 2025

Canada’s immigration refusal rates surge amid processing backlog concerns

Federal data reveals a significant increase in Canadian immigration application refusals across multiple categories since 2023, with temporary resident applications experiencing the most dramatic rise.

While policy changes have contributed to higher rejection rates for study permits (65.4%) and visitor visas (50%), immigration experts suggest that pressure to reduce the growing backlog of 2.19 million applications may be compromising decision quality.

Critics point to hasty reviews, boilerplate rejections, and potential over-reliance on analytical tools as officials struggle to manage volume while facing departmental cutbacks.

#visa_refusals, #immigration_backlog, #study_permits, #temporary_residents, #application_processing, #visitor_visas

August 14, 2025

IRCC introduces mandatory upfront medical exams for Express Entry permanent residence applications starting August 2025

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a significant policy change requiring all Express Entry permanent residence applicants to complete medical examinations before submitting their applications.

Currently, applicants submit their complete permanent residence application first, then await IRCC instructions to complete required medical exams.

This change will not affect applications submitted before the implementation date or non-Express Entry permanent residence applications.

Effective August 21, 2025, the change aims to reduce processing times by ensuring all medical requirements are fulfilled upfront, which may help eliminate delays caused by medical exam scheduling and results verification after application submission.

#express_entry, #canada_immigration, #permanent_residence #medical_exam_changes, #ircc, #immigration_medical_exams, #pr_application_process

August 14, 2025