Annual Review of Economic Immigration Programs and Immigration Plan for Economic Immigration Programs

Ankita is a dynamic and accomplished RCIC-IRB with much knowledge in immigration law and policies. Holding a master's degree in computer science, a master's degree in Entrepreneurship (Valedictorian) from Panjab University, and a Certificate in Immigration: Law, Policies, and Procedures (Valedictorian) from The University of British Columbia, Ankita has demonstrated an exceptional level of expertise and dedication to the field of immigration law. 

Ankita serves as the Managing Director of Immigracia Visa Consulting Inc. Her commitment to excellence, passion for assisting individuals and families in achieving their immigration goals, and her adeptness in analyzing complex legal and regulatory matters, combined with a profound understanding of the intricacies of the immigration process, make her an invaluable asset to her clients. As a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), she is also licensed to appear and represent before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), is a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits in British Columbia, and a licensed immigration consultant for the Province of Saskatchewan, Ankita’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident in every facet of her work.

She is dedicated to advancing the rights and interests of all members of the immigration community. Anchored by her exceptional knowledge, experience, and dedication, Ankita is poised to continue making significant contributions to the field of immigration law for years to come. 

Annual Review of Refugee Law and Immigration Plan for Refugee Law Programs

Daniel McLeod is a highly experienced immigration and refugee lawyer with over 20 years of practice in Vancouver. He is dedicated to representing immigrant and refugee clients from diverse backgrounds, including advising and assisting refugee sponsorship groups and Sponsorship Agreement Holders. 

A graduate of Simon Fraser University and UBC Law School, Daniel has been an instructor in UBC's immigration program since its inception in 2001. In 2017, he was named one of Vancouver's top three immigration lawyers by Georgia Straight readers. 

His work includes representing sponsored refugees, sponsorship groups, and refugee claimants from various countries. Beyond legal practice, he has contributed through lectures, papers, and media appearances on refugee law issues. 

Daniel has received the Simon Fraser University Award and Canada’s Medal of Bravery. He also has a working knowledge of French and conversational Spanish. 

Outside law, Daniel has written "TrudeauMania," a musical about Canada’s 15th Prime Minister, and has achieved recognition in songwriting. 

Overview/Updates of Programs for Legal Professionals

Lynn Fournier-Ruggles is Program Coordinator of Justice Administration Services diploma programs and a full-time professor in the School of Legal, Public and Office Administration at Seneca College in Toronto.

Lynn escaped from a career as a federal public servant with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Immigration and Refugee Board and now happily teaches immigration and refugee law courses, as well as subjects related to court and public administration in a number of diploma and graduate certificate programs.

She holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy, Administration, and Law (York University), a Graduate Diploma in Justice System Administration (York University), a Bachelor of Arts (University of Ottawa), and a Certificate in Excellence in Educating Adults (Seneca College). In addition to authoring Canadian Immigration and Refugee Law for Legal Professionals and Canadian Immigration and Refugee Law: A Practitioner’s Handbook with Emond Publishing, Lynn has authored several academic articles. 

The Immigration Plan and the Future for Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship, and Legal Immigration Professionals

Richard Kurland is a distinguished Immigration Lawyer licensed in the provinces of British Columbia and Quebec. His notable role as the Editor-in-Chief of Lexbase Immigration is underscored by his guiding principle, "Keeping Ottawa Honest." He is the driving force behind the monthly release of vital information, meticulously obtained through the Access to Information Act, aptly named Lexbase. 

In addition to his legal practice, Richard Kurland is an accomplished policy analyst. He has maintained his position as a revered expert witness on immigration issues, having been called upon by Parliamentary committees since 1994, and continues to offer his insights to the present day. His remarkable contributions to the field were officially recognized in 2017 when he was bestowed with a well-deserved medal by the Senate of Canada, honoring his invaluable service to the nation. 

Richard's impact on immigration practice is immeasurable, extending far beyond the boundaries of traditional legal roles. He combines his legal acumen with a delightful sense of humor, making his presentations a genuine delight for practitioners, including lawyers and consultants alike. His engaging approach and extensive expertise set him apart as a true luminary in the field. 

Annual Review of Temporary Immigration Programs and Immigration Plan for Temporary Immigration Programs 

Craig is a partner at EY Law LLP in Vancouver. Craig has contributed to many different panels and working groups in Canada and abroad. He has served as an immigration expert at Global Affairs Canada conferences, was a member of the City of Vancouver’s economic trade team during the London 2012 Olympics and has spoken on industry hot topics at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo. Over his career, Craig has been a voice at the negotiation table around work permit-related categories. This includes working on the Digital Media LMIA variation in 2013, and the Global Skills Strategy in 2017. Craig also sat on the immigration sub-committee of the BC Labour Market Partners & Workforce Development for Technology initiative. 

Craig has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal in their Corporate Immigration and Canadian Lawyers listings since 2011. He was the chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s British Columbia Immigration Section from 2007 to 2009. Craig is also actively involved in legal education. He taught the temporary foreign workers module for the University of British Columbia’s Certificate in Immigration: Laws, Policies, and Procedures program from 2009 to 2019, and has co-chaired the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia’s biennial conference on temporary foreign workers since 2007. 

Annual Review and New Immigration Plan – Overview

Steven Meurrens is a Vancouver-based Canadian immigration lawyer who advises clients on all Canadian immigration and citizenship issues. He has significant experience representing corporate and individual clients in obtaining visas and permits for many business-related purposes, including, but not limited to, Labour Market Impact Assessments, intracompany transfers, international trade agreements, specialty business visits, and transitioning from temporary to permanent resident under numerous federal economic streams. His corporate clients include businesses engaged in mining, telecommunications, construction, hospitality, and technology start-ups.  

He also has an active practice assisting people who have been denied entry to Canada and to those who have had visa applications refused as well as had numerous appearances before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.   

Outside of his practice, Steven is the is a co-host of the Borderlines Podcast, a Canadian immigration law podcast consisting of in-depth interviews.  

Annual Review of Temporary Resident Permits and Immigration Plan for Temporary Resident Permits

Annie Beaudoin is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. She is also currently an Adjunct Professor (Immigration Law) at the University of Montréal and Queen's University, and a speaker for major Canadian immigration organizations. 

Ms. Beaudoin has over 15 years of experience, from working at the Quebec Delegation in Boston to working for the Federal Government of Canada at the Canadian Consulate General in Los Angeles, where she was promoted to the highest Officer level as a Designated Immigration Officer. She has a unique background as the sole bilingual Designated Immigration Officer in Los Angeles, which allowed her to work on a wide variety of applications and, of course, most French files through the Quebec Immigration Programs. 

This line of work also contributed to furthering Ms. Beaudoin’s uncommon and advanced expertise in all inadmissibility to Canada, including security, organized crime, criminal, medical, financial, and familial inadmissibility. This knowledge is extremely rare in the Canadian Immigration field. As part of the permanent staff in the US, she has also gained a high-level expertise in criminal inadmissibility from the 50 United States of America & other countries, and the concrete equivalencies to the Canadian Criminal Code and provincial statutes. She is an expert in Rehabilitation Approval and Temporary Resident Permits applications for those who have a criminal conviction(s) on their record. 

Ms. Beaudoin has also authored multiple investigative reports on trends in US and Canadian immigration with an impact on Canadian government policies and consequences of migration movements. 

Annual Review of Family Class Immigration Programs and Immigration Plan for Family Class Immigration Programs and Super Visas 

Divya Bakshi Arya is a highly experienced Immigration Consultant with more than 18 years of expertise in the field of immigration law. With her background as a foreign-trained lawyer and her extensive experience in Immigration Law since 2004, she has become a trusted adviser in all immigration-related matters.  

Divya specializes in various areas of immigration, including spousal visas, work permits, business immigration, start-up investment visas, provincial nomination entrepreneur visas, and assisting corporates in hiring qualified foreign workers from around the world. Her broad range of specialization demonstrates her in-depth knowledge of the immigration landscape. 

One of Divya's notable strengths is her representation of clients at Canadian visa offices outside of Canada. This experience equips her with the ability to provide comprehensive assistance and guidance to her clients throughout the different stages of visa applications. It also allows her to help them navigate the complexities of the immigration system with confidence and efficiency.