Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Nicholas Keung

@nicholaskeung.bsky.social

33 followers 11 following 100 posts

Immigration Reporter at the Toronto Star. Can be reached at [email protected].

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 9h

Estefania, a migrant worker from Mexico, will not see a cent of the $1 million fine Ottawa issued against her former employer, Bolero Shellfish Processing Inc., for violating the temporary foreign worker program, according to the Immigration Department
www.thestar.com/news/gta/can...

Canadian company that employed temporary foreign workers gets record fine for abuses — but workers won’t get any money

The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is calling on Ottawa to compensate migrant workers from fines collected.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 13h

MPs on immigration committee have inserted into Bill C-3 language and knowledge requirements, as well as security checks for foreign-born descendants of Canadian parents who were also born abroad. 1,095-day residency has to be consecutive over 5 years
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Canadian residency, language provisions added to bill on citizenship by descent

To inherit citizenship by descent, those 18-55 would need “adequate” knowledge in English or French, and of the responsibilities of being a citizen.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 1d

Hundreds of civil society groups and the NDP have opposed most of Bill C-2’s new provisions and called for its withdrawal, while the Conservatives and Bloc appeared open to the immigration changes.
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Carney government expected to replace controversial border bill

An analysis by the Justice Department concluded the original version of the bill could have affected several rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 2d

Experts are seeing more security screening referrals even PR/TR applicants haven't served in military/law enforcement, worked for foreign govt or belonged to groups. Some think it's related to geopolitics & is an attempt to slow immigration processing
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

This couple has been in Canada for years. They applied for permanent residence — but are baffled they are still waiting for security clearance

Time-consuming security screenings for temporary or permanent resident applications have been on the rise, often with no obvious reason.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 2d

Desperate US firms could take advantage of CUSMA to poach talent to their north to fill gaps. Weighted H1B lottery would also mean int'l grads & junior skilled workers would less likely be selected. The cohort could be direct competition to Canadian grads
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

How Canada can take advantage of Donald Trump’s $100,000 charge for skilled worker visas — and how Canada can lose out

Changes to U.S. visas open up an opportunity, but talented workers may still be lured south of the border under free-trade rules.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 5d

“We’ve heard concerns that Bill C-3 could mean hundreds of thousands of new citizens,. Based on that evidence, we anticipate volumes in the tens of thousands over time and we do not expect any surge.”
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Is 3 years of residency in Canada enough connection for citizenship by descent? MPs are at odds

Bill C-3 would allow Canadians born abroad to pass citizenship by descent to children also born abroad.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 12d

Under new PGWP rules, 30% fewer postgrad work permits for international students. In first 6 months of 2025, PGWPs going to colleges up at expense of undergrads from universities. Postgrad PGWPs steady. Share of PGWPs to biz/management programs also up
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Which international students in Canada are getting postgraduate work permits? The list is shrinking

Decline in the approvals has been attributed to new rules to limit access to work authorizations for international graduates in Canada.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 13d

This unique StatCan study tracks the outcomes of those temporary residents already in Canada as they navigated Canada’s immigration labyrinth to extend permits, acquire permanent residence and in some cases, end up losing valid status. Here's what it found
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Ottawa set out to reduce Canada’s temporary residents. Here’s how it’s going

The federal government has reduced its immigration intakes for three years in response to public backlash against high immigration amid a housing and affordability crisis.

www.thestar.com

Reposted by Nicholas Keung

WorldPeaceForYou @worldpeaceforyou.bsky.social · 14d

Thanks for your reporting, @nicholaskeung.bsky.social. Canada must integrate its talent, including w/ fair living wages in dignified work. May leaders like ex Gov Gen’l Michaele Jean & PM @markcarneyforpm.bsky.social and orgs like @utoronto.ca be part of implementing this national self-interest.

Project MUSE - <i>Becoming a Citizen: Incorporating Immigrants and Refugees in the United States and Canada</i> (review)

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 14d

About one-quarter of immigrants who came to Canada intending to work as nurses were unemployed or in lower-skilled jobs in 2021 despite a chronic shortage of health-care workers.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Foreign-trained nurses struggle to find work in Canada despite shortages, StatCan data suggests

Despite significant shortages across the country, qualified internationally educated nurses face steep barriers to working in their field.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 14d

Canada’s median age — the age that divides the population into equal halves — increased from 40.3 years on July 1, 2024, to 40.6 years on July 1, 2025, while the average age rose from 41.6 years to 41.8 years.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Canadians’ average age rises as immigration declines, says StatCan

Newfoundland and Labrador saw the proportion of people aged 65 and older surpass 25 per cent of its overall population, said the agency's report.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 14d

Canada rose to 2nd place among six top countries for students who intended to study abroad as an “open, safe & welcoming” place, from 4th place. It jumped one spot, ranked the 2nd “most attractive” international education destination, just behind the U.K.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Canada rebounds as a top choice for international students, new survey finds

According to ApplyBoard, Canada rose to second place among six countries for students intending to go abroad as an “open, safe and welcoming” place.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 14d

That was the amount of time Officer AH11413 spent b4 approving an application to voluntarily surrender Li’s status — without noticing it had been fraudulently filed by someone else. "What happened to Sam could happen to almost any perm resident in Canada.”
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Someone tried to strip this man’s permanent status. He says it took Canadian immigration just four minutes to approve the ‘obvious’ fraud

“I should not have to pay to fix the Immigration Department's mistakes,” Hang (Sam) Li told the Star.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 20d

With the last province ending its contract w/Ottawa this week, no more immigration detainees are held in provincial jails, fulfilling recommendations by inquest jury into migrant death in custody. Immigration detention is now a full federal responsibility
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Canada Border Services Agency says no more immigration detainees are in provincial jails

Immigration detention will now be a full federal responsibility as the controversial practice has ended in all 10 provinces.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 20d

He has cared for Canadian patients & struggled to get perm residence for 2 years despite Ottawa’s effort to attract health-care professionals to immigrate to the country. At 49, his age works against him. New rule removing points for job offer doesn't help
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

This American family doctor in Toronto is trying to get permanent residence. Canada’s new immigration rule has thrown him a curveball

Age, lack of French and a rule change are obstacles for the physician, who has practised in Toronto for two years.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 21d

Toronto police arrested Fenilkumar Kantilal Patel on extradition warrant issued by the United States, alleging the Brampton man helped co-ordinate the Canadian arm of the smuggling operation that led to the 2022 deaths of an Indian family of 4 near Emerson
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Police arrest Brampton man accused of smuggling family of four who froze to death in Manitoba

Toronto police arrested Fenilkumar Kantilal Patel, 37, on the morning of Sept. 5 on an extradition warrant issued by the United States.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 21d

Despite all her clients applying within a month of the Gaza special program opening, none were given the chance to complete their applications, because their codes never arrived. Now, each's been told the program had reached its cap and had closed.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Canada blocked visa applications without explanation for Gazans fleeing war: lawyer

The Canadian government opened the temporary visa program in January of 2024.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 22d

Critics are questioning what problem the Alberta government’s move to add mandatory citizenship markers to provincial identification aims to solve, and say it opens the door to potential privacy breaches and discrimination.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Immigration lawyer, critics raise concerns about citizenship marker on Alberta ID

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Monday the move is all about streamlining services and preventing election fraud.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 22d

Immigration Minister Lena Diab has kept a low profile since she was named immigration minister in May. But experts fear this could just be the calm before the storm, and they expect more big immigration changes to complete Marc Miller’s unfinished business
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

With immigration to Canada reduced, here are some of the big changes the Carney government may focus on

When push comes to shove, critics say the federal government’s only option is to get as many temporary residents in Canada out in the next two years.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 22d

Experts expect IRCC to take into account the size of the backlog & length of processing times in deciding what programs to go after under Bill C2. Humanitarian programs that bring little economic benefit would also be likely on the chopping block.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Canada’s new immigration bill seeks power to cancel or suspend applications and documents. Experts say these are the groups likely to be targeted

Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, is seen as an attempt to cut soaring immigration backlogs and processing times.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · 27d

“Now, it’s clear that we have to work to continue to improve our overall immigration policies, and the temporary foreign worker program must have a focused approach that targets specific strategic sectors and needs in specific regions.”
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Carney says temporary foreign worker program needs a ‘focused approach’

Carney says plans to reduce immigration rates are meant to "ease the strain" on housing, infrastructure and social services.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · Sep 4

Those fined include a lawyer, 21 immigration consultants and 55 employers. Btw 2018 & 2024, program staff issued 6,506 notices of intent to refuse an applicant’s OINP nomination; out of those, 2,703 ended up being rejected after further inquiries.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Dozens fined for breaking rules of Ontario immigrant program that has come under scrutiny

The program was the focus of an Auditor General report last year that revealed “weaknesses” in its ability to prevent and detect misrepresentation.

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · Aug 29

Coming in 2027, every traveler entering Canada will get a "compliance score," which will dictate if the person is going to be sent for secondary exam as part of border screening. Here's how the AI-assisted system works and why critics are concerned:
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Canada’s border agency plans to use AI to screen everyone entering the country — and single out ‘higher risk’ people

The tool is expected to launch as early as 2027 and is meant to help border services officers decide whether to refer travellers and the goods they are carrying for

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · Aug 29

Coming in 2017, every traveler entering Canada will get a "compliance score," which will dictate if the person is going to be sent for secondary exam as part of border screening. Here's how the AI-assisted system works and why critics are concerned:
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Canada’s border agency plans to use AI to screen everyone entering the country — and single out ‘higher risk’ people

The tool is expected to launch as early as 2027 and is meant to help border services officers decide whether to refer travellers and the goods they are carrying for

www.thestar.com

Nicholas Keung @nicholaskeung.bsky.social · Aug 28

In 2022, temporary foreign workers made up 3% of the workforce in ambulatory health care services, 1.2% in hospitals & 4.9% in nursing/residential care facilities. It's even higher in home healthcare, where they accounted for 7.9% of workers.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Use of temporary foreign workers soars in Canadian health care

The number of temporary foreign workers in Canada’s health-care sector has soared over the past two decades, rising by nearly 1,700 per cent between 2000 and 2022, as the country

www.thestar.com