Strengthening Canada’s Regulation of Immigration Consultants

Strengthening Canada’s Regulation of Immigration Consultants

The Government of Canada is proposing new legislation to create a new self-regulatory body, the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, to be the official watchdog of immigration consultants across the country. 

Currently, the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) is the national self-governing body overseeing Canadian immigration professionals. The ICCRC began regulating Canadian immigration consultants in 2011, and regulates over 4200 immigration consultants. 

On April 10, Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, stated: “By introducing new legislation, we are going to protect Canadians, prospective newcomers and good-standing immigration and citizenship consultants against the fraudulent consultants who are preying on the most vulnerable.” 

Previously, on April 8, the Globe and Mail published an investigative article which revealed cases of fraudulent immigration consultants accused of exploiting numerous foreign workers.

The proposed changes are also meant to “protect both Canadians and prospective newcomers as well as the many good-standing consultants that are providing immigration and citizenship services ethically and professionally.”

– Written by Wen-Tao Xue, Student-At-Law and guest author on this site.