#177 - Agents, Fees, and Broken Promises
A discussion about Mac’s Convenience Stores Inc. v. Basyal, 2025 BCCA 284. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 19, 2025•44 min
Borderlines
A podcast for the discussion of Canadian immigration law and policy, although we often delve into other topics. Each episode features 2-3 lawyers, academics, politicians, and stakeholders discussing current migration issues.
Hosted by Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff, two immigration lawyers in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes
#176 - Canadian Immigration in 2027
Steven and Deanna dig into two new Government of Canada consultations on immigration policy. The first is on immigration levels planning for 2027 and beyond. The second is on new Express Entry categories . Topics include the survey questions, the results of last year’s consultations, caps on workers, and the proposed new categories of senior managers, scientists & researchers and allied soldiers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 12, 2025•55 min
#175 - August Crimmigration Updates
We cover recent developments at the intersection of criminal and immigration law. We review significant Supreme Court of Canada decisions, highlight problematic CBSA investigations, discuss judicial errors during sentencing, and explore current trends in immigration policy and processing. We also answer live audience questions about express entry scores, humanitarian and compassionate applications, parent and grandparent sponsorship backlogs, and more. Timestamps: 0:17 – Introduction and overvie...
Aug 05, 2025•1 hr 2 min
#174 - Bill C-2, Carney's Big Beautiful Border Bill
We conduct a comprehensive analysis of the immigration implications of Bill C-2, an omnibus bill tabled by the federal government that significantly expands government authority and introduces sweeping changes across multiple areas of Canadian law. Bill C-2's immigration provisions would: Grant the federal government broad powers to suspend, cancel, or vary immigration documents, including permanent resident visas, permanent resident cards, temporary resident visas, work permits, study permits, ...
Jul 29, 2025•1 hr 1 min
#173 - Bill C-3 - Expanding Canadian Citizenship by Descent
The complexities of Canadian citizenship by descent with immigration lawyers Amandeep Hayer and Lisa Middlemiss. [1:35] What citizenship by descent means. [3:17] Historical and current limitations, including the first-generation rule and exceptions. [5:55] The 2023 Bjorkquist decision. [9:49] Bill C-3. [13:57] Interim measures. [20:26] Debates over residency rules and comparisons to U.S. laws. [31:00] Voting rights for citizens abroad and potential fraud risks. [44:02] How to prove citizenship w...
Jul 22, 2025•52 min
[Repost] #43 - An Interview with John McCallum, Canada's Immigration Minister from 2015-2017
This episode is a repost of our interview with John McCallum, Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration from November 2015 to January 2017. He passed away on June 15, 2025. A Member of Parliament from 2000 - 2017, he also served as Defence Minister under Jean Chrétien, and Veterans Affairs Minister, National Revenue Minister, Natural Resources Minister and as Chair of the Expenditure Review Committee under Paul Martin. As Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in Justin Trudeau...
Jul 11, 2025•1 hr 7 min
#172 - Fast vs. Slow: Immigration's Impact on Canada's Economy & Regions, with Daniel Hiebert
In this episode, we dive into Dan Hiebert's latest C.D. Howe Institute report on how different immigration rates shape Canada's economic challenges and regional disparities. Key topics include: Aging Population and Immigration: Why Canada’s current immigration levels are insufficient to offset an aging population, and the implications of a simultaneously older and larger population. Regional Disparities: How immigration disproportionately fuels growth in major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, ...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 2 min
#171 - Express Entry AMA with Kubeir Kamal and Tamara Mosher-Kuczer
Our panel dive into several questions about Express Entry in this Ask Me Anything session. Featuring Kubir Kamal and Tamara Mosher-Kutzer as our guests. 0:20: Introduction to the panel and the state of Canadian immigration in 2025. 2:20: What does the recent Supreme Court decision on Pepa mean for visa holders' appeal rights? 7:40: Will Express Entry scores drop to 505 this year? 14:50: Why are healthcare and STEM categories not seeing lower scores despite shortages? 22:41: How does declaring a ...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 4 min
#170 - Getting Divorced in Canada, with Ari Wormelli
Ari Wormelli joins to discuss how to get divorced in Canada, and its intersection with Canadian immigration law. Topics discussed include non-accompanying spouses agreeing to or contesting divorce with prospective immigrants in Canada, practical barriers, serving legal documents internationally, getting foreign divorces recognized in Canada, annullment in the Philippines, marriages under fake IDs, and break down an actual case. Timestamps: 0:19 - Welcome and Guest Introduction 0:52 - Diving into...
Jun 24, 2025•59 min
#169 - H&C Applications, with Raj Sharma and Hannah Lindy
Join us for an insightful episode of the Borderlines Podcast, featuring Raj Sharma and Hannah Lindy, both individuals with extensive experience submitting Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) applications. In this episode, we dive deep into H&C applications under section 25 of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act . Learn what H&C applications are, who can apply, and the key factors officers consider, including the best interests of children and compelling circumstances. We...
Jun 23, 2025•56 min
#168 - Judicial Review AMA
Immigration lawyer Lev Abramovich returns to discuss frequently asked questions regarding judicial review. This episode offers valuable guidance for legal professionals, consultants, and those navigating immigration processes. Topics Addressed: ( 1:49 ) The IRGC ( 6:32 ) Bill C-2 ( 10:48 ) What is judicial review, and how does it differ from an appeal? ( 13:30 ) When faced with an H&C refusal, what factors determine whether to reapply or seek judicial review? ( 19:29 ) How do you proceed wit...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 2 min
#167 - A Life in Immigration Law: Gordon Maynard on Collegiality, Discretion, and Staying Human
In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Gordon Maynard, a recently retired immigration lawyer, to reflect on his remarkable 35-year career. Gordon shares how he sustained a long and fulfilling practice through the camaraderie and support of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), mentorship from peers, and the value of in-person connections. He discusses the critical role of the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) in providing equitable discretion for permanent residents facing removal, critiques ...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 7 min
#166 - The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Ali Esnaashari and Kaveh Shahrooz join to discuss the Canadian immigration implications of Canada's decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. Topics Explored: Historical Context of the IRGC: Understand the origins, structure, and global activities of the IRGC, including its role in the tragic downing of Ukraine International Flight PS752. Conscription and Inadmissibility: Learn how mandatory military service in Iran leads to Canadian inadmissibility fi...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min
#165 - Is Canada soft on crime? with Kyla Lee
In this episode, Vancouver criminal defense lawyer and Driving Law podcast host Kyla Lee unpacks Canada’s criminal justice system, tackling listener questions on bail, sentencing, and mental health treatment. From the nuances of bail hearings and the presumption of innocence to the principles of sentencing like deterrence and rehabilitation, Kyla offers expert insights into how courts address crime, trauma, and addiction. She also explores controversial topics like involuntary treatment, the imp...
May 30, 2025•51 min
#164 - Inadmissibility for Human Rights Violations
When permanent residents and foreign nationals can be found inadmissible for violating human or international rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 27, 2025•1 hr 4 min
#163 - Mini Flash Update on Work Permit Issues
Deanna and Steve discuss an internal IRCC document listing numerous challenges that employers are having with IRCC, including processing delays, security screening, the BC PNP, high points in Express Entry, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 13, 2025•41 min
#162 - Canada's Aging Population, Demographics and Immigration, with Daniel Hiebert
Daniel Hiebert is an Emeritus Professor of Geography at the University of British Columbia. We discuss his recent paper for the CD Howe Institute titled " Balancing Canada’s Population Growth and Ageing Through Immigration Policy ." Those who support high immigration levels often say that Canada's ageing demographics makes immigration a necessity. This conversation is a deep dive into this issue. One thing is apparent. There are no easy solutions. It is going to take massive increases and change...
May 05, 2025•58 min
#161 - Mark Carney Wins = 100,000,000 Canadians?, with Mark Holthe
Mark Holthe is an immigration lawyer in Lethbridge and the President of the Canadian Immigration Institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 30, 2025•46 min
#160 - Landlord Tenant Law, with Benjamin Meadow
Benjamin Meadow is a lawyer in Vancouver, British Columbia. We discuss whether landlords can charge temporary residents more for rent or security deposits, when a foreign worker's lease is tied to their employment, landlords discovering illegal subletting, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr
#159 - Carney vs. Poilievre on Immigration, with Chantal Desloge
We breakdown the immigration promises of the 2025 Canadian federal election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 24, 2025•58 min
#158 - Terrorism, Talukder and the Bangladesh National Party, with Connie Campbell
Connie Campbell is an immigration lawyer in Vancouver. We discuss the Federal Court decision in Talukder v. Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), 2024 FC 1489. Is inadmissibility for membership in a terrorist organization too broad? Is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party a terrorist organization? What about Samidoun? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 22, 2025•55 min
#157 - Leaving Immigration Law, with Randall Cohn
Randall Cohn, an immigration lawyer in Vancouver, joins to discuss his reasons for leaving the Canadian immigration law practice area. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 27 min
#156 - Arguing Incompetence of Counsel, with Arshdeep Kahlon
"Incompetence of counsel" in the Canadian immigration law context refers to situations where an applicant seeks to set aside a decision (e.g., refusal, removal order, etc.) on the grounds that their legal or immigration representative provided ineffective or negligent assistance, which prejudiced their case. Arsheep Kahlon joins to discuss the key elements of how this argument works. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 7 min
#155 - A Plan to Attract Talent to Canada, with Martin Basiri
Martin Basiri is a Co-Founder and the former Chief Executive Oofficer of ApplyBoard, a Start-Up Visa Program company that in 2021 reached a valuation of $3.2-billion. He is currently the Founder of and CEO of Passage, which enables immigrants and international students by providing financial access. Martin is part of Build Canada, an organization that helps Canadian entrepreneurs share their ideas for a bolder, richer, freer country. We discuss Martin's proposal Great People, Greater Canada: A T...
Apr 01, 2025•59 min
#154 - Expanding The Presumption of Innocence to Immigration Law
On March 14, 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in John Howard Society of Saskatchewan v. Saskatchewan (Attorney General) , 2025 SCC 6. Prior to the case, in Saskatchewan’s provincial correctional institutions, inmates charged with disciplinary offences had to appear before a disciplinary panel, where the standard of proof was a balance of probabilities, even for major offences that may result in up to 10 days of disciplinary segregation or the loss of up to 15 days of earne...
Mar 27, 2025•28 min
#153: The Big Reveal: Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot Programs
Deanna discusses the new Ministerial Instructions rolling out the long awaited caregiver pilots on 31 March 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 26, 2025•31 min
#152 - Revoking Elon Musk's Canadian Citizenship, with Amandeep Hayer
Over 300,000 Canadians have signed a petition calling on the government to revoke Elon Musk's citizenship. Is this possible, and should it be? We also discuss the ongoing saga about changes to the law and policy regarding citizenship by descent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 21, 2025•48 min
#151 - Mark Carney, The Liberal Leadership Race, and Canadian Immigration, with Chantal Desloges
Chantal Desloges is an immigration lawyer in Toronto. We discuss what the various Liberal leadership candidates have pledged regarding Canadian immigration policy, with a focus on Mark Carney and a speech that he gave to the Century Initiative. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 07, 2025•38 min
#150 - Capping Immigration Applications from India
Kubeir Kamal is a regulated immigration consultant in Toronto. In October, 2024, Quebec announced that it was limiting the number of foreign nationals invited from any one country in its Regular Skilled Worker Program to 25%. In February, 2025, Marc Miller said that Canadian post-secondary institutions need to be more diverse in their recruitment, noting that there would always be applicants from India. India is by far the number one source country of immigrants to Canada. How likely is it that ...
Mar 04, 2025•54 min
#149 - Incomplete Applications
In this episode, we break down IRCC's practice of rejecting applications for incompleteness, often for minor technical issues. Effectively a form of stats manipulation, this practice creates a misleading picture of departmental efficiency while leaving applicants stranded, often forcing them to restart the process for trivial errors. Cases discussed include Gennai v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) , 2017 FCA 29 and Goel v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) , 2025 FC 275 . Hosted on Acas...
Feb 26, 2025•35 min
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