S1E13 - Canadian Citizenship: What Practitioners Need to Know

In December 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that Canada’s current “first generation” limits on citizenship violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In this episode, citizenship experts Amandeep Hayer and Lisa Middlemiss join us to break down the proposed controversial Canadian Citizenship amendments. We discuss the limitations of first-generation citizenship, the Bjorkquist case, Bill C-71, and more. While Bill C-71 promises to abolish discriminatory limitations, many aspects of the Bill remain uncertain, including the “substantial connection to Canada” test. Does this new test make it too easy to qualify? Will these changes lead to a continual succession of Canadian citizenship or issues in population growth? Tune in to hear how practitioners can keep abreast of these changes and prepare clients for the uncertainty ahead.

In this segment of “Things I Wish I Knew,” we discuss nightmare clients and how to avoid them. We explore the red flags – clients who refuse direction, constantly look for shortcuts and discounts, ask irrelevant "what ifs,” or bombard you with too much communication. We share our advice for stepping away from an unresolvable situation while upholding your professional responsibilities.

Special Guests:

Amandeep Hayer is the principal lawyer at Hayer Law, a boutique immigration law firm in Langley, British Columbia. His firm specializes in citizenship by descent, business immigration, BC PNP applications, spousal and family sponsorship, criminal inadmissibility, and more.

Lisa Middlemiss, founder of Middlemiss Immigration Law, a boutique immigration law firm in Montreal specializing in work and study permits, permanent residence, citizenship applications, contesting refusals, and more.