How will Bill C-35 impact people and organizations that previously provided advice at the pre-application stage?
Anyone who used to provide paid advice prior to the filing of an application or the commencement of a proceeding will need to be an authorized representative, as identified in section 91 of IRPA. Persons who provide such advice after the coming into force of the new provisions without being an authorized representative would be in contravention of the IRPA and liable, on conviction on indictment, to a fine of up to $100,000 and/or to imprisonment for up to two years; or on summary conviction, to a fine of up to $20,000 and/or to imprisonment for up to six months. Now that Bill C-35 covers the pre-application stage, what types of business, conducted at any stage of an application or proceeding for a fee or other consideration, must now be provided by an authorized immigration representative? Previously, some third parties were not required to be authorized in order to provide paid advice in the pre-application stage. The pre-application stage is now covered by Bill C-35, meaning that, i
