Immigration
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January 17, 2025
Ottawa reports sharp increase in penalties on employers misusing temporary foreign worker program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has barred 20 employers from participating in the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program and imposed $2.1 million in administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) following non-compliance findings during employer inspections between April 1 and Sept. 30, 2024.
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January 17, 2025
Federal Court of Appeal discourages Tax Court from sending out draft judgments to parties
Draft decisions are best kept behind closed court doors, the Federal Court of Appeal has indicated in a decision admonishing the Tax Court of Canada for sending out a draft copy of a decision for review by the parties involved. “We wish to comment on the practice the Tax Court followed here,” Justice David Stratas wrote for the three-judge panel in a recent decision in Doostyar v. Canada 2025 FCA 6.
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January 16, 2025
Proposed U.S. tariffs could cost B.C. $69B in economic activity, 124,000 jobs, province estimates
The imposition of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threatened 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports could cost British Columbia 124,000 jobs and $69 billion in economic activity between 2025 and 2028, according to a B.C. Ministry of Finance impact assessment.
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January 16, 2025
Gazans arriving in Canada can now apply for one-time ‘transitional’ support for basic needs
Palestinians fleeing Gaza who arrive in Canada to join family here can now apply to receive lump-sum “transitional” financial assistance for their basic needs, via a one-time direct payment of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child under age 18, the federal government says.
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January 16, 2025
Manitoba to have special prosecutor for hate crimes
In a bid to combat hate crime in the province, Manitoba’s government is designating a lead Crown prosecutor to “tackle the issue.”
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January 15, 2025
Canada prepares for migrant surge from U.S. in response to Trump’s deportation threat
Ottawa says that it is prepared for a possible surge of migrants and asylum claimants if and when incoming U.S. president Donald Trump implements his mass deportation pledge — but federal officials did not say how many people they anticipate might arrive at the Canada-U.S. border.
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January 15, 2025
Saskatchewan moves to strengthen border with U.S.
Saskatchewan has announced a plan for new security measures in efforts to tighten its border with the U.S. — just days before the swearing-in of Donald Trump as president.
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January 13, 2025
Changes to permanent residency selection create anxiety for applicants
On Dec. 17, 2024, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that Express Entry candidates would no longer receive additional points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for holding a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) based job offer. This change will come into effect in the spring of 2025 but is already causing anxiety among permanent residency applicants.
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January 10, 2025
Canada announces additional sanctions on Venezuelan officials in wake of disputed election
The federal government has announced it is imposing new sanctions on 14 current and former senior officials in the government of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who was sworn in for a third six-year term Jan. 10 following a disputed election and despite U.S.-led sanctions.
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January 10, 2025
Yukon launches project to address healthcare worker shortage
Yukon’s government has launched an initiative aimed at making it easier for foreign-trained health-care professionals to practise in the northern territory.