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.
We discuss three recent developments: IRCC’s abrupt addition and removal of new requirements for C20 reciprocal-employment work permits; CBSA officers checking the immigration status of participants at a Calgary protest, with 12 people identified as potentially inadmissible; and The hundreds of procedural fairness letters being sent to former IRGC conscripts who may now face inadmissibility…
Can Parliament prevent courts from reviewing the decisions of administrative tribunals? In this episode, we discuss the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision in Democracy Watch v. Canada (Attorney General), 2026 SCC 28. The case arose after Democracy Watch sought judicial review of the Ethics Commissioner’s finding that former prime minister Justin Trudeau had not violated the Conflict of…
Canada says it is returning immigration to “sustainable levels.” But what does sustainability actually mean? And sustainable for whom? Deanna Okun-Nachoff is joined by immigration lawyer Will Tao, founder of Heron Law Offices, to discuss how artificial intelligence, automated triage and rapidly changing policies are reshaping Canadian immigration decision-making. They examine: • Whether AI is…
What happens when IRCC changes the rules after someone has already made major life decisions? Or even submitted their application? We start with recent Post-Graduation Work Permit refusals involving graduates of non-credit programs. Students enrolled in programs that had previously resulted in PGWPs, only for IRCC’s website to be updated in June 2026 to state that non-credit programs, other than…
Filmmaker Josh Fox joins Borderlines to discuss his new HBO documentary, The Welcome Table, and the growing displacement of people around the world because of climate change. Josh Fox is an Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker best known for Gasland, which helped bring international attention to fracking. In The Welcome Table, he travels through communities affected by fires,…
Service Canada has increased the wage thresholds that determine whether an LMIA is classified as high wage or low wage. While the numbers may appear modest, the practical consequences are significant. We explain why many employers in Vancouver and other high-unemployment regions may now be unable to obtain low-wage LMIAs, how the changes affect international graduates on post-graduation work…
Recorded June 24, 2026. IRCC has thrown Canadian citizenship by descent into chaos. After thousands of people received Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3, some were suddenly told to surrender them, only for many to receive follow-up letters days later saying their certificates had been "revalidated." Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Lena Diab has confirmed that new Bill C-3…
We break down several IRCC e-mail responses to representatives that answer questions by immigration lawyers and consultants. Questions include: Can foreign remote work performed while living in Canada count toward Express Entry? Does someone who applies for a new work permit before their Post-Graduation Work Permit expires have maintained status? In Start-Up Visa applications, do all essential…
Canada's immigration system is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. Refusal rates are rising, processing is slowing, and pathways that seemed viable just a few years ago are disappearing. In this episode, Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff discuss the realities facing temporary residents who are running out of options. They explore what happens when work permit applications are…
In this episode of Borderlines, Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff are joined by immigration lawyer, mediator, and former Canadian Bar Association Chair Kamaljit Lehal to discuss the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision recognizing a new tort of intimate partner violence. We discuss how the Court addressed coercive control, financial abuse, isolation, surveillance, intimidation, and…