We have published our reflections from 2023. It was a successful year for the team at CIL. We moved into a beautiful new office and we hired more staff. We will continue to focus on helping our clients and providing the best service.

We actually just got the news that we are ranked #1 at TrustAnalytica. Good start!

As you may know from this site, we have been ranked as one of the top immigration law firms for many years by other ratings companies. This is the first time we have been contacted by TrustAnalytica. We are humbled and honoured to be recognized (again) for the high quality of our work. Thank you!

Predictions for 2024

• High rate of refusals for Study Permits

IRCC Minister Marc Miller announced in DEC 2023 new requirements for international students. Visa Officers are going to require more evidence for financial support. Officers are going to scrutinize applications even more than in the past. IRCC wants to avoid more scandals from international students hiring shady immigration consultants and becoming victims of these shady agents.

We predict that the number of Study Permits issued in 2024 is going to be lower than 2023.

• Increase use of Chinook/ Advanced Analytics

During the COVID-19 pandemic, IRCC focused on implementing tech solutions across the system. One of the tools that have been implemented was the “Chinook” tool that “employs advanced analytics or artificial intelligence to automate decisions”, according to IRCC. 

In 2020, Alastair Clarke gave testimony to Parliament (CIMM Committee) and encouraged the use of tech solutions. The portals have been a strong improvement from the past practice of sending packages to IRCC by Canada Post or DHL or FedEx.

At CIL, we have fought (and won) many Federal Court ALJR where Officers used Chinook. These cases are going to become more common.

We predict IRCC will continue to increase the use of technology across the system. IRCC has invested significant $$$ in building these tech solutions and they are slowly being implemented around the globe.

• Increase growth in Manitoba

Everyone knows that Canada is the #1 destination around the world. Based on the ongoing conflict between Ukraine & Russia and the recent military action in Gaza between Israel & Hamas, we continue to get many calls for people who are looking for a safe place to live.

Housing has become a significant issue in Canada. Cities that include Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are becoming unaffordable. There is not enough housing for all the newcomers and they are looking at other cities in Canada. Recently, the Globe and Mail highlighted the diversity of cultures in Winnipeg. Many recent reports focus on the positives of living in Manitoba.

“We’re really lucky,” Mr. Hitzer said of the Winnipeg food scene, as we sat at the bar of his perpetually packed Exchange District restaurant. “There’s a blend of so many different cultures that have come here that you can really eat your way around the world, in a beautiful kind of way.”

Indeed, Winnipeg is no white-bread Prairie town. Nearly 14 per cent of Winnipeggers are Indigenous, 24 per cent are immigrants and 26 per cent are visible minorities – diversity stats that are all higher than the Canadian average.

We have already published how Manitoba is #1 for child care in Canada. 

We predict a significant increase in interest in Manitoba. It is going to become more competitive to be selected by MPNP and the strong demand is going to make the immigration process more difficult.

• Chaos in the USA

2024 is an election year. It is clear that Trump is not going away quietly and his MAGA supporters are prepared to use violence. This coming election will likely lead to increase animosity against immigrants in the USA and more xenophobia.

For the past few years, we have helped many folks immigrate from the USA to Canada. (My parents moved from Chicago in the 1960s.) We do consultations with folks talking about “civil war”.

We predict the 2024 USA election is going to increase interest in Canadian immigration. People around the world are going to see the differences between the USA and Canada – if they have not already realized the big differences.

• New Programs on Labour Market Shortages

It seems clear that the Liberals are not prepared for an entire modernization of the immigration system, even though IRPA is more than 20 years old and many sections are out of date. The IRCC Minister Transition Binder 2023 called on “planning for the future now”. It seems that means they are focused on addressing urgent needs by various labour market forces while ignoring the big picture.

During the Conservative’s time in power, they proposed and passed the Omnibus bill that made many changes/ amendments to IRPA. Many years later, the Liberals promised to fix those changes and they have not. I do not expect any sweeping reforms in 2024.

We predict focused programs that will deal with labour issues as they arise. We do not expect IRCC to make any big systemic changes to the Canadian immigration system.

• Many more positive decisions at CIL

In 2023, the team at CIL moved into a beautiful new office and we have expanded. We have new team members who are learning and helping more clients. We predict that we will have many more positive decisions for our clients in 2024. We look forward to celebrating all those victories!

Happy 2024!