About Bill C-35... how does that affect this forum?

[Huxley1234]

Recently came across the details about Bill C-35, which makes it illegal for someone to give immigration advice if they are not accredited.

At its core, the Act amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), making it an offence for anyone other than an authorized representative to conduct business, for a fee or other consideration, at any stage of an application or proceeding.

My question: Since this forum is free, is it completely fine for any of us to give advice? The "...or other consideration..." point above seems to make this law a grey zone.

And: Can anyone give background why this law was created? It seems to stifle any innovations or companies that could exist to help immigrants come to Canada. Was there a huge problem with crooked consultants?

Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/backgrounders/2011/2011-06-28a.asp

 

[ThreeSquareImm]

This law was created in an attempt to regulate the activities of all the "immigration consultants" both here in Canada and around the world. There were an increasing amount of immoral and unethical behaviour being conducted. For example:

1) Agents or consultants selling application forms to unknowing people
2) Agents or consultants telling applicants that they have special influence with different government officers/officials/visa posts
3) Agents of consultants accepting money from people to file applications when they clearly knew their file would be rejected.

Really, the list goes on and on. A product of Bill C-35 was the mandated creation of the ICCRC (Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council), which replaced CSIC (Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants). Now, only 4 types of people can represent you for a FEE in Canada:

1) Members of ICCRC
2) Lawyers belonging to a provincial bar
3) Paralegals who are members of a professional association
4) Quebec Notaries

Bill C-35 was created as a first step to bring regulation to a quite untamed and somewhat unscrupulous industry. It's better for the people.