We have blogged about the need for regulation of immigration consultants in order to protect the public from fraudulent representation. As we have reported, it appears that the Province of Quebec has taken the lead in cracking down on unscrupulous immigration consultants. And we applaud Quebec for their efforts. However, there may be a “grey lining” in their silver cloud.
Quebec’s proposals may be going too far making it unnecessarily difficult for licensed Canadian lawyers who do not practice in Quebec to represent immigration clients bound for that province. An article in the Law Times here where I was interviewed discusses this issue in more detail.
Let’s hope that Quebec does not overreach its mandate to put a dent in the malfeasance practiced by some immigration consultants. Their proposals, while well intended, could end up preventing very competent, experienced out-of-province immigration lawyers from doing their job.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
