The Future – Trends and Influences

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. 

2025 Summary and 2026 Targets for Family Class Processing - Overseas and Inland

Mahsa immigrated to Canada at the age of 16 from Iran. She holds a BA degree in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. She also completed her Immigration Consultant Diploma in March 2020 from Ashton College in downtown Vancouver.

She started her own immigration business in January 2021 after successfully passing her Entry to Practice Exam. Mahsa established “Mehrvarz Immigration” with the goal of assisting people who want to immigrate to Canada for a better life and career opportunities.

Mahsa provides services in many areas of immigration, refugee, and citizenship and she has been representing clients before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada for the past two years. Mahsa has been a tutor/mentor for the past 10 years and she is excited to curate her passion for teaching and affinity for immigration. 

2025 Summary and 2026 Targets for Economic Migrants

Al Parsai is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. He runs a successful business in downtown Toronto, Ontario, with many employees. Al is also the author of "88 Tips on Immigration to Canada".

As a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants and the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants, Al has represented hundreds of applicants from more than 35 countries to the Canadian immigration authorities.

He has extensive experience as an author, trainer, and public speaker. Over the past 20 years, Al has written ten books and hundreds of articles and has delivered numerous courses, workshops, and speeches in four different countries. 

2025 Summary and 2026 Targets for Refugee Determination –Overseas and In-Land
Sonia Sekhon is a licensed Canadian Barrister and Solicitor in the Province of Ontario and the founding principal of The Legal Café, a boutique law firm based in Niagara Falls, Ontario. 

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Sonia completed her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) with Honours at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia. During her time abroad, she gained invaluable international legal experience working with private law firms in Brisbane as well as with the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General. 

Sonia’s dedication to immigration advocacy led her to earn an Immigration Consultant Diploma with Honours in 2019 and subsequently obtaining a secondary licence in 2022 through the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), reflecting her commitment to comprehensive immigration representation. 

Throughout her legal career, Sonia has worked in several practice areas, including Immigration Law, Family Law, Criminal Law, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, and Administrative Law. Sonia’s passion for helping individuals and families build better futures led her to focus her practice primarily on Canadian Immigration Law. 

In addition to her legal work, Sonia serves as a co-founder and chairwoman of a Niagara Falls based not-for-profit organization dedicated to cultural engagement and community development.      

2025 Summary and 2026 Targets for Temporary Foreign Nationals – Visitors, Students, and Workers
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.