The True Post | Muhammad Amanullah
July 16, 2026
OTTAWA: The Canadian government has introduced sweeping reforms to strengthen oversight of immigration consultants, aiming to improve accountability and better protect newcomers from fraud. However, legal experts and victims say the new measures may still fall short of preventing abuse within the immigration system.
The federal government first announced the regulatory changes in May, saying they were designed to strengthen the authority and oversight of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), the body responsible for regulating licensed immigration consultants across Canada.
The reforms come after several high-profile immigration fraud cases in recent years, including a major scheme in Ontario that targeted international students and involved licensed immigration consultants.
One immigrant from India, who requested anonymity while speaking to local media, said he arrived in Canada in 2022 and was allegedly asked to pay up to C$100,000 by an immigration consultant who claimed the payment could secure a pathway for him to remain in the country.
The individual said many immigrants feel they have little choice when faced with uncertain immigration status, adding that similar experiences are more common than many people realize.
British Columbia lawyer Evan Logan, who represents clients in civil cases against immigration consultants, said many victims hesitate to file complaints because they fear it could negatively affect their immigration applications.
Logan also described a case in which a consultant allegedly reported their own client to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) after the client filed a complaint against them.
While welcoming the new rules, Logan questioned why the CICC has not made greater use of its existing authority, including conducting audits of consultants before formal complaints are filed.
According to CICC data, the regulator received 1,211 new complaints between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, yet only 15 disciplinary actions were taken during that period. In the previous reporting year, the number of disciplinary actions stood at 11.
Under the new regulations, which came into effect Wednesday, the federal government says investigations into professional misconduct will become more transparent, stronger penalties will be available for consultants who violate regulations, and a compensation fund will be established to help eligible victims recover financial losses.
Legal experts say the compensation fund could become one of the most significant reforms, although questions remain about how effectively victims of immigration fraud will be compensated in practice.
