What actually counts as “work” under Canadian immigration law? The answer is much broader than simply receiving a paycheque.
We discuss a recent Federal Court decision involving unauthorized work and the line between simply owning a Canadian business and actually working for it. We examine how unpaid activities, volunteering, helping a family business, self-employment and even a single instance of work can potentially lead to immigration consequences.
We then turn to Canada's free trade agreements and an often-overlooked source of LMIA-exempt work permits. The discussion covers CUSMA, CETA, the CPTPP and Canada's other trade agreements, including the different options available to professionals, intra-company transferees, investors and business visitors.
Finally, we look at Canada's expanding trade agenda, including negotiations with India and ASEAN and the Canada–Indonesia agreement, and discuss how new trade agreements could create significant new work-permit pathways.
Topics include: unauthorized work; working without a work permit; owning vs. operating a Canadian business; unpaid and volunteer work; enforcement and removal orders; CUSMA/NAFTA; CETA; CPTPP; LMIA-exempt work permits; and Canada's emerging free trade agreements.
","author_name":"Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff"}