AVIOU LAW FIRM
THE UK'S ONLY CANADIAN IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM
EVENTS
Learn More About Our Upcoming Events
At our core, we are here to serve the community and our experienced lawyers are always at the ready to meet new and wonderful faces. So if it’s a quick chat or a warm smile you’re after; have a look below and see what sort of events are happening near you and be sure to join us there :-)
IN THE NEWS
See what's caught our attention
Find all the current and archived AVIOU LAW news and information here. SIgn up for updates to stay informed about what’s going on in the legal world and beyond.
TORONTO MP AHMED HUSSEN 1ST SOMALI-CANADIAN APPOINTED TO FEDERAL CABINET
January, 2017
A country that is rich in ethnic diversity, the appointment by Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau of Somali-born Toronto MP, Ahmed Hussen to the positon of Minister of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship is welcomed by all stakeholders. Hussen replaces John McCallum, who is set to become Canada's ambassador to China. The move is one of many in a cabinet reshuffle that will see several ministers move department or leave cabinet altogether. Forty-year-old Hussen, a qualified lawyer, was born in Somalia. After arriving in Canada as a 16-year-old refugee, he completed high school in Hamilton, Ontario, before attending York University, where he earned a BA in History in 2002. Hussen later pursued a law degree at the University of Ottawa, successfully completing his bar exam in 2012.
NEW PILOT IMMIGRATION PROGRAM HELPING CANADA FIGHT THE WAR ON HIGH TECH TALENT
November, 2017
Since launching the Global Skills Strategy pilot program in June, Canada has attracted over 2000 applicants with a current approval rate of 80%. The program was launched by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada as a two-year project to assist companies to recruit highly skilled foreign tech workers to help their businesses expand. Decisions on foreign talents’ work permits are made within a couple of weeks as opposed to months under the new Global Skills Strategy pilot program; also the program makes it easier for their immediate family to migrate with them, providing such family members with open work permits. Last year, 8,785 tech workers immigrated to Canada. For the first eight months of 2017, the number is at 6,940 — that's nearly 80 percent of last year's total already.
CHANGE IS ON THE HORIZON: DISCRIMINATORY PROVISION 38-1C TO BE REVIEWED
December, 2017
The Department of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada, is said to be considering repealing a provision found in section 38 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which can bar persons and their family members from seeking permanent residency in Canada on the grounds that they could reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health or social services; this provision has long been under attack by advocates who say it discriminates against people with disabilities.
Minister Hussen; who is the Minister of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada, has said that his office is looking into several options as changing the law will save the federal government approximately $135 million over a five year period in medical costs and represent just 0.1 percent of all provincial and territorial health spending.
Currently, a person may be deemed medically inadmissible if a visa officer determines that the cost to treat the person’s disability or medical condition exceeds the $6, 655 per year threshold afforded to the health and social services. The only exemption to the medical inadmissibility and excessive demand of an applicant is given to refugees and their family.
Minister Hussen speaking before the parliamentary committee reviewing the provisions of 38-1c stated that the removal of such a provision could lead to the approval rate of an estimated 80% of all applicants that have been denied under the subsisting rules. Hussen has the support of MPs from all parties, as many MPs are in agreeance that the rules need to be amended or abolished altogether. Liberal MP Nick Whalen called the policy “egregious” and runs counter to the inclusive values of Canadians.