The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) has submitted a comprehensive set of 100 recommendations aimed at modernizing and strengthening Canada’s immigration legislation. The proposals, developed by the CBA’s Immigration Law Section, call for significant reforms to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and related regulations, which have been in place since 2001.
The recommendations were formally presented to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Metlege Diab, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, and Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement Joël Lightbound.
In a news release, Kamaljit Kaur Lehal, Chair of the CBA Immigration Law Section, said that although the IRPA has served the country well over the past two decades, shifting immigration patterns, global dynamics, and technological changes have made clear the need for legislative reform.
“Canada’s immigration system has become increasingly opaque, unpredictable, and risk-averse,” Lehal stated. “It now relies heavily on ministerial instructions and internal policies rather than clear and accountable laws.”
The CBA’s report, titled “Law, Technology, and Accountability: Reimagining Canadian Immigration for the 21st Century,” advocates for a cohesive and internally consistent overhaul of federal immigration policy. It outlines the need for a legal framework that not only reflects modern realities but also upholds the original principles of fairness, transparency, and democratic oversight.
The proposals seek to address systemic challenges and improve the functionality of Canada’s immigration system in the face of growing public demands for transparency and responsiveness. Lehal emphasized that a decision-making process grounded in consistent rules and democratic input is essential to restoring public confidence.
“We believe Canadians deserve an immigration system that is transparent, user-friendly, and accountable to the public,” she said.
According to the CBA, the reform blueprint is founded on six guiding principles: human rights, innovation, transparency, natural justice, collaboration, and user experience. These values, the association says, provide a clear roadmap toward building a more effective and equitable immigration system.
The CBA Immigration Law Section expressed its willingness to collaborate with federal officials to help shape a system that is not only proactive and resilient but also accessible to those it serves. Lehal encouraged the government to use this opportunity to rebuild public trust and modernize the legal framework in a meaningful way.
“Our members have worked diligently to develop these recommendations,” Lehal said. “This is a crucial moment to reimagine and reinvigorate Canada’s approach to immigration.”
The recommendations have received broad support from immigration lawyers across the country, according to the association.
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