By Cindy Ramkissoon-Shears On September 4, 2026, a temporary public policy came into effect that allows eligible foreign workers to study without a study permit for 6 months or less. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) seeks to support foreign workers who are already in Canada by providing opportunities and greater flexibility to pursue short-term […]
By Cindy Ramkissoon-Shears The information contained in this article should not be taken as legal advice. It is important to seek legal advice if your situation, or that of someone you know, is similar to the facts set out in this case. Larry (not his real name) is a permanent resident of Canada. He sought […]
Negative H&C decision overturned by the federal court By Neil Armstrong In a recent Federal Court of Canada decision, the Judge allowed an application for judicial review by setting aside a negative decision and remitting the application for redetermination to a different decision-maker. I will refer to the applicants as Erica and Jasmine. Erica, a […]
Nine Caribbean Nations Keep Visa-Free Access Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed that citizens of nine Caribbean countries holding ordinary passports may continue to travel to Spain and the wider Schengen Area without a visa for short stays, while travellers from five other CARICOM nations remain subject to visa requirements. The countries eligible for […]
For decades, migration between Canada and the Caribbean has represented opportunity, ambition and hope. Thousands of Caribbean citizens have moved to Canada in search of better employment, education and quality of life, while Canada has benefited from the skills, dedication and cultural contributions of these newcomers. Yet behind this success story lies a complex challenge: […]
Chinese nationals accounted for the largest number of work permits granted to foreign workers in Jamaica during 2025, maintaining a trend that has continued for several years, according to the latest Economic and Social Survey Jamaica released by the Planning Institute of Jamaica. The report stated that 2,441 permits were issued to Chinese nationals, well […]
Play explores the immigrant experience By Neil Armstrong In her play, “Sincerely, E,” now on at the Toronto Fringe Festival until July 11, Toronto playwright and director, Neisha Pierre, explores the Caribbean Canadian experience through a story of migration, identity, and belonging. Describing it as a love letter to Toronto’s Caribbean pioneers, she said their resilience, […]
Celebrating a nation that learned to embrace us Canada Day invites every citizen to celebrate the remarkable country Canada has become. For Caribbean Canadians, however, the day is also an occasion for reflection—a time to acknowledge a history marked by both exclusion and opportunity, and to appreciate how far the nation has travelled. Canada did […]
Canada has long prided itself on being a refuge for people fleeing war, persecution, torture, and violence. Yet recent federal changes to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) risk undermining that humanitarian commitment by placing new barriers between refugees and the health care they desperately need. The federal government’s decision to impose a 30 per […]
Compassion capped: refugees face new health barriers Canada has long prided itself on being a refuge for people fleeing war, persecution, torture, and violence. Yet recent federal changes to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) risk undermining that humanitarian commitment by placing new barriers between refugees and the health care they desperately need. The federal […]
