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#208 - Proving Canadian Ancestry, with Amandeep Hayer and Lisa Middlemiss
56:51|We are joined once again by Amandeep Hayer and Lisa Middlemiss, to discuss citizenship by descent post Bill C-3With thousands of people, particularly Americans, now exploring whether they qualify for Canadian citizenship through a distant ancestor, we discuss how the law works, how to prove eligibility, and the practical challenges involved.We also discuss the genealogy research often required to prove citizenship, archival birth records, IRCC processing issues, the interim measures, and the broader policy implications of expanding citizenship while immigration pathways tighten.03:01 Quick recap: who qualifies for Canadian citizenship by descent under the new framework08:27 The main challenge: proving ancestry and lineage13:33 Situations where someone may think they qualify but actually don’t (e.g., adoption issues)27:43 Can someone apply for a study permit or work permit if they might already be Canadian?Audience Questions:33:14 British subjects in Canada during WWII35:26 What happened to the interim citizenship measures from 202439:36 Do families need separate citizenship proof applications for each generation?46:06 Where to start if your Canadian ancestor was born in the 1800s48:26 Translation requirements for Quebec civil records
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#207 - Mobility Rights Under the Charter
16:40|Do Canadians have the right to travel throughout the country? A discussion of the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Taylor v. Newfoundland and Labrador, 2026 SCC 5. Topics discussed include the decision, s. 6 of the Charter, whether Canadians and permanent residents have a right to travel between provinces, how section 1 of the Charter can justify limits on rights, provincial nominee programs and post-landing mobility, misrepresentation concerns when intended province of residence changes and Bill C-12.#206 - The Importance of the Canadian Senate, with Senator Paula Simons
38:09|In this impromptu episode, we get a first person account of how one social justice advocate made the leap from journalist to Senator. The conversation is full of insight into the role that Senate plays in protecting the democratic process -- in particular around challenging legislation such as Bill C-12, which is approaching third reading.#205 - Former CBSA Chief On Immigration Investigations & Removal Priorities
56:20|Former CBSA Chief Christian Lane explains how CBSA immigration investigations and deportations work in Canada.Topics discussed include CBSA investigative priorities, removals, organized crime investigations, misrepresentation, Bill C-12, refugee claims, intelligence work, the political pressure shaping immigration enforcement, whether immigration enforcement agencies sometimes pursue “low-hanging fruit” when removing individuals from Canada, and agency culture. Christian Lane hosts the Team 1080 podcast, which features interviews with professionals working in public safety, law enforcement, healthcare, and military roles.2:00 Immigration investigations 6:00 Enforcement priorities15:05 Extortion investigations 25:03 Discretion43:34 Why CBSA ranked last among federal agencies in employee satisfaction#204 - Stop Bill C-12! With Sharry Aiken
41:17|This epsiode offers insight into Professor Aiken's ongoing efforts to raise concern with Bill C-12 (the Stronger Borders legislation currently before Senate) -- both with the Canadian government, and with the UN Human Rights Committee.#203 - New Express Entry Manager Category (2026): Who Actually Qualifies — and Who Doesn’t
07:08|This was originally intended to be a YouTube only episode but several podcast listeners asked that we add it to the audio-only feed as well. A break down the new Express Entry categories announced on February 18, 2026, with a particular focus on the senior managers with Canadian work experience category.Key topics include:Why this category generally does not help entrepreneurs or owner-operators.How IRCC assesses self-employment.What it really means to be a senior manager (NOC 00).Federal Court cases discussed on what constitutes "senior management" include Recursive Craft Inc. v. Canada (Employment and Social Development), 2022 FC 1206, and Merijohn v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1003.#201 - IRCC’s Security Screening Delays: Causes, Timelines, and Legal Impacts
15:41|As of November 2025, internal IRCC projections reveal a stark reality about Canada’s security screening system. Based on recent processing times by partner agencies and current inventory levels, permanent residence applications referred for comprehensive security screening are projected to take approximately 64.8 months to complete. For temporary residence applications, the projected timeline is 30.3 months.Lev Abramovich joins to break down what these projections actually mean and current issues with security screening.