CLEBC - Courses On Demand

Immigration Issues in Depth 2025

Course Date: December 5, 2025

Full Course Materials

Total: 5h 19min

Total Ethics: 1h

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:10)

Nadia Myerthall — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Phillippe Alma — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Brett J. Nash — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Will Tao — Heron Law Offices, Burnaby

Jurisprudence Update: Administrative and Immigration Law (9:10 – 10:55)

review of key Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada immigration, refugee and citizenship decisions in 2025
discussion of recent developments in other areas of the law that may impact immigration, refugee and citizenship law practice
trends, highlights and lowlights in recent jurisprudence, and what is expected in 2026

Sashka Djordjevic — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Hannah Lindy — Larlee Rosenberg, Vancouver
Mark Mancini — Assistant Professor, Thompson Rivers University, Faculty of Law, Kamloops
Johanna Russell — Legal Counsel, IRB, Vancouver

BREAK (10:55 – 11:10)

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (11:10 – 12:10)

updates from the IRB

Jesse Davidson — Acting Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Immigration Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Paula Faber — Acting Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Appeal Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Alice Tang — Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Protection Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver
Linda Taylor — Assistant Deputy Chairperson, Immigration Appeal Division, Western Region, IRB, Vancouver

NETWORKING LUNCH (provided to in-person registrants) (12:10 – 1:10)

Motions for Stay of Removal (1:10 – 2:00)

preparing the record for a stay application: what information is most relevant from each side and why it is important to include
clarity on the nature of the underlying decision being challenged: different legal tests
understanding the purpose of a stay: short term vs. indefinite deferral
particular nuances that affect the application of the tripartite test:
- effect of previous decisions
- potential mootness
- children and family separation
- health risks
- avoidance of immigration law
do's and don'ts of deferral requests and stay motions
the balance of convenience with supporting case law

The Honourable Negar Azmudeh — Federal Court, Ottawa

Hilla Aharon — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Beth Friesen — Edelmann & Co., Vancouver

Federal Court of Practice and Procedural Issues (2:00 – 2:50)

amended Consolidated Practice Guidelines for Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Protection Proceedings dated June 20, 2025
procedural motions in immigration proceedings
use of artificial intelligence
view from the registry

Associate Judge Kathleen Ring — Federal Court, Vancouver

Soraya Premji — Registry Officer, Courts Administration Services, Vancouver

BREAK (2:50 – 3:05)

Citizenship (3:05 – 3:55)

new proposed bill
possible litigation arising
increasing number of citizenship revocation cases

Amandeep Hayer — Hayer Law, Langley
Alex Stojicevic — MKS Immigration Lawyers LLP, Vancouver

Closing Remarks (3:55 – 4:00)

Phillippe Alma — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Brett J. Nash — Department of Justice Canada, Vancouver
Will Tao — Heron Law Offices, Burnaby