Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney speak with former victims of fraudulent immigration consultants. Photo: Matthew Little/The Epoch Times
The idea that Canada is only now acting on the regulation of immigration consultants, is rather frightening. To think of the decades of abuse that went unchecked by previous governments simply boggles the mind.
The Conservative government has announced plans to choose a new regulator for immigration consultants, including stiff penalties for those who break the new laws. Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, who has previously implemented visa restrictions for countries with fraudulent refugee claims, issued a bi-partisan refugee reform plan, and introduced a new citizenship guide containing information and expectations for new Canadians, has stepped up again in leading on this very important issue.
Previously, the immigration consulting industry was entirely self-regulated. The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants is a professional body of roughly 1,600 members, and has been independent of government since its creation by the Liberal Party in 2004. That organization may be disbanded by the Conservative government if it is ruled illegitimate.
The “Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act”, would make it a crime for a person who is not a lawyer, notary or member of a recognized immigration consultants body to accept a fee for providing immigration advice. The move is an attempt to weed out the people who exploit immigrants by charging them exorbitant consulting fees for invalid applications. Of note, the NDP is already on board with all of this:
“The bill would make it a crime for unauthorized individuals to provide immigration advice for a fee and this criminal offence has teeth. It will impose serious penalties: up to two years in jail or a $50,000 fine or both,” Mr. Kenney told reporters in Ottawa. He added that he also intends to pressure foreign governments to pursue unscrupulous consultants working within their borders who counsel prospective immigrants to Canada to submit fraudulent applications. His moves were well-received by NDP MP Olivia Chow, a long-time campaigner on this issue. Ms. Chow told the Canadian Press she wants to ensure the proposed reforms will give police and border agencies a mandate to enforce the new laws.
I don’t usually favour extraneous government intervention, but in this case it can’t simply be a matter of caveat emptor. Much like doctors, accountants, or lawyers, an immigration consultant should be a certified professional adhering to recognized standards of ethics and conduct. Such a body can’t be accountable only to itself. Hence, government certification is a logical and important step here.
there should be one way and one way only to immigrate to canada and that is through the immigration dept of the federal government. a person should be able to obtain legal advice from a lawyer but no one else. anyone making promises to a potential immigrant is already commiting fraud.
Whoa, OWG – one can be a legitimate consultant and not be a lawyer. The problem here is those profoundly unqualified persons who are essentially fraudulent, counselling fraud, and preying on their own communities.
There is an organization for consultants, and it requies considerable education and continuing education to belong. One consultant I know was a lawyer in his home country and has taken extensive courses here to obtain proper qualifications.
To say that only the immigration department and lawyers should be allowed to be part of the immigration process is to abandon said process to bureaucrats and professionals, making the whole process vulnerable to bureaucratic inneficiencies and high expenses. Surely a consultant who is the immigration equivalent of a para-legal could be part of the process.
Too much immigration period if you ask me and not enough questions about the need for it at all. But you can’t say that because it is now a crime.
If nothing changes then the Future canada will belong to the minority that can out-breed the rest of them.
Simple math proves that it’s just a matter of time when natives die off and newcomers produce 6 children for every 1 baby from any other race or group in canada.
Dear old white guy:
you must be joking, didn’t you receive your education both formally and infomally. Who do you refer to when you say “making promises to a potential immigrant”? Lawyer, certified immigration, ghost consultant, immigration officer etc…?