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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Canada's immigration system vulnerable to abuse? What IRCC report reveals
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed multiple cases of internal misconduct, including a bribery attempt involving the approval of study permits—raising concerns over the system's vulnerability to insider abuse. The findings were released last week in the department's annual misconduct report covering the 2023–2024 period. The IRCC, which processes millions of immigration applications each year, employs more than 11,000 staff across units handling study permits, work permits, permanent residency and refugee claims. According to the report, 62 out of 76 internal investigations led to confirmed misconduct. These included harassment, privacy breaches, and violations of the IRCC's code of conduct. Bribery attempt and insider threats In one case, a processing agent used an internal messaging tool to ask a colleague whether they would accept money to approve a study permit. The agent later claimed the message was sent by someone else using his laptop—a person to whom he allegedly owed money. The case has led to renewed scrutiny of internal controls at IRCC. 'Insider misconduct poses a serious threat to the fairness and integrity of Canada's immigration system, particularly within high-volume visa streams where oversight is inherently more challenging and the stakes for applicants are significant,' said Ketan Mukhija, senior partner at Burgeon Law. Conflict of interest and inappropriate conduct The report identified three employees in breach of IRCC's code of conduct. One was caught making disparaging remarks about clients from a specific country. Another officer developed a personal relationship with an asylum claimant staying at an IRCC-run hotel. The staff member gave the claimant advice on navigating the department, provided preferential treatment, and co-signed a car loan. This led to an unpaid suspension for conflict of interest. Marriage fraud flagged among applicants IRCC also recorded cases of marriage fraud—where applicants attempt to gain immigration benefits through fake relationships. Officers are trained to detect 'marriages of convenience', which are criminal offences under Canadian immigration law. Expert criticism of oversight during Trudeau years Darshan Maharaja, a Canada-based immigration analyst, said the problem has grown over several years, particularly after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. 'Looking from the outside, it seems that during Prime Minister Trudeau's tenure, scrutiny and oversight of the visa applications and approvals became very lax. For example, a couple of years ago, there was the case of 700 Indian students who had come to Canada on study visas based on fake admission letters from Canadian colleges. Over the past five years, the integrity of the immigration system was allowed to deteriorate significantly. The internal misconduct by IRCC staff is, in my view, a result of this deterioration,' Maharaja told Business Standard. Maharaja added, 'Canada's current immigration system is highly vulnerable to abuse by both insiders as well as outsiders. Some of the measures that were introduced last year to strengthen the system, such as requiring study permit applicants to submit proof of having secured residential accommodation, are not foolproof.' Disciplinary actions taken IRCC said it had taken a range of actions against staff found guilty of misconduct. These included: Written reprimands Unpaid suspensions Terminations Revocation of security clearances The department said it would introduce training and awareness programmes to encourage ethical conduct among staff. 'The goal of this report is to build confidence in our accountability systems,' IRCC said. 'The department plays a critical role domestically and globally—from managing temporary entries to settling newcomers, granting citizenship, and issuing passports.' Immigration policy under review The release of the report comes as the Canadian government works to limit the number of new arrivals. Under its 2024 immigration plan, the federal government has announced cuts to international student and temporary worker numbers. Permanent resident admissions will be capped at under 1% of the population annually, with overall immigration levels expected to be brought to what the government calls 'sustainable levels' by 2027. While IRCC says it has already introduced safeguards such as digital monitoring, reliability screening and task rotation, experts say more targeted enforcement is needed. 'These measures must be strengthened particularly in the areas of digital access controls, real-time monitoring, and whistleblower protections to effectively prevent insider abuse and curb exploitation by organised immigration networks,' said Mukhija. 'I believe that the system needs a major overhaul in order to serve the best interests of Canada and the visa applicants,' said Maharaja. Canada on Wednesday released details of its proposed Strong Borders Act, a Bill that could reshape how the country handles temporary residents and asylum seekers. The legislation, if passed, would allow authorities to suspend or cancel immigration documents, introduce stricter rules on asylum eligibility, and improve information-sharing across government. The proposed changes are expected to affect a wide range of immigrants, including Indian nationals, who continue to represent a large share of Canada's temporary and permanent migration flows. As of January 1, 2025, Canada had around 3.02 million temporary residents—students, workers and others—accounting for 7.3% of the country's total population. India remains the top source of new permanent residents, and Indian nationals are also a notable presence among asylum seekers. Total asylum claims had reached a record high of 470,029 by April 1, 2025.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Khalistani extremists using Canada to plan violence in India: Intel report
New Delhi: Politically motivated violent extremism threat in Canada since mid-1980s has manifested through Khalistani extremists seeking to use violent means to create an independent nation state called Khalistan within India's Punjab, a report by Ottawa's intelligence agency has said. It said a small group of Khalistani extremists are continuing to use Canada as a base for fundraising and planning of violence primarily in India. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service's report for 2024 was released on Wednesday, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney with a focus on rebuilding bilateral ties that plummeted to an all-time low following a diplomatic spat over the killing of a Khalistani separatist. The report said ongoing involvement in violent activities by Canada-based Khalistani extremists continues to pose a national security threat to Canada and Canadian interests. The report was also critical of New Delhi for what it called India's foreign interference activities in Canada. 'In particular, real and perceived Khalistani extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada,' it alleged. The report appeared to clearly vindicate New Delhi's consistent position that pro-Khalistani elements in Canada have been carrying out anti-India activities with impunity. 'Since the mid-1980s, the PMVE (politically motivated violent extremism) threat in Canada has manifested primarily through Canada-based Khalistani extremists seeking to use and support violent means to create an independent nation state called Khalistan, largely within Punjab,' the report said. Under its India section, the report alleged that 'Indian officials, including their Canada-based proxy agents, engage in a range of activities that seek to influence Canadian communities and politicians'. 'When these activities are deceptive, clandestine or threatening, they are deemed to be foreign interference,' it claimed. New Delhi had previously trashed such charges levelled by Canadian authorities. The report also said China poses the greatest intelligence threat to Canada, besides naming Pakistan, Russia and Iran. The report also mentioned the case of killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The India-Canada relations hit rock bottom following then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in 2023 of a potential Indian link to the killing of Nijjar. India had rejected the charges. In October last year, India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to the Nijjar case. India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats. The report said Canada's investigation into the 2023 killing of Nijjar continued in 2024. 'Four individuals were arrested in May 2024 and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Criminal proceedings are ongoing,' it said. 'In mid-October, as part of ongoing RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) investigations, the RCMP announced that evidence pointed to a link between agents of the government of India and criminal networks to sow violent activity in South Asian communities in Canada,' the report alleged.
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pro-Khalistan extremism a threat to Canada, says spy agency in report
Canada's spy agency has said that India's alleged foreign interference activities have been driven by concerns of pro-Khalistan extremism emerging from Canada, acknowledging that some extremists use Canada as a base for planning violence in India. The admission is in the section on Politically Motivated Religious Extremism or PMVE in the Canadian Security Intelligence Service or CSIS' annual report to Parliament for 2024, which was tabled in the House of Commons on Friday but only published publicly on Wednesday. 'Since the mid-1980s, the PMVE threat in Canada has manifested primarily through Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) seeking to use and support violent means to create an independent nation state called Khalistan, largely within Punjab, India,' the report said. 'While there were no CBKE-related attacks in Canada in 2024, ongoing involvement in violent activities by CBKEs continues to pose a national security threat to Canada and Canadian interests. In particular, real and perceived Khalistani extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada,' the report noted. 'Some Canadians participate in legitimate and peaceful campaigning to support the Khalistan movement. Non-violent advocacy for an independent state of Khalistan is not considered extremism. Only a small group of individuals are considered Khalistani extremists because they continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India,' it added, in a significant official acceptance by Canada of its territory being used to potentially foment terrorism in India. Such a reference to Khalistani extremism was missing from the report for 2023. The report also made the allegations of Indian interference in Canada, though, for the first time, it also underlined what motivates such alleged activity. 'These activities attempt to steer Canada's positions into alignment with India's interests on key issues, particularly with respect to how the Indian government perceives Canada-based supporters of an independent homeland that they call Khalistan,' the report stated. 'The main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage against Canada include the PRC (People's Republic of China) , India, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran,' it said. The recognition that violence targeting India may be funded and planned from Canada was not the first this year as the tenor of official reports has changed since Justin Trudeau's announcement in January that he was going to resign as Prime Minister. The final report of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, which is headed by Justice Marie-Josee Hogue, and released on January 28, stated that according to CSIS 'India has some legitimate basis for concerns about the security threat posed by Khalistani extremism in Canada. Some extremists have engaged in threat-related activities directed at India from within Canada, notably by coordinating and funding terrorist activities in India.' It added, as per CSIS, 'the vast majority of Khalistan supporters are peaceful.' India-Canada ties nose-dived when former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged in September 2023 that Indian agents were linked to the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed the charge as 'absurd' and subsequently accused the Canadian government of giving space to separatists and radical elements that pose a threat to Indian diplomats and interests. As bilateral ties hit an all-time low over the past year, both sides expelled diplomats and downgraded ties. Following Mark Carney's appointment as Canadian PM on March 14, the two sides have been in touch at the level of leaders and senior officials. There have also been meetings between senior security officials, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the Indian side and the National Security Intelligence Advisor, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Canadian Security Intelligence Services on the Canadian side.
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Bold plan for crisis-ridden hospital
The NSW government will have power to terminate the operating contract of the embattled Northern Beaches Hospital as if a default had occurred under proposed legislative amendments, following the tragic deaths of two children. Two-year-old Joe Massa and newborn Harper Atkinson both died at the Sydney hospital in unrelated incidents since September, leading the government to ban any future public-private partnerships (PPPs) for acute care hospitals. The state government will next week introduce amendments to a bill by Wakehurst MP Michael Regan, which would allow the government, if required, to terminate the contract of operator Healthscope as if a default had occurred. It comes after receivers were appointed to Healthscope's parent entities – which the NSW government considers a default – with the bill giving Health Minister Ryan Park power to issue a termination notice if an agreement is not reached. Receivers were appointed to Northern Beaches Hospital operator Healthscope's parent entities in May. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Credit: News Corp Australia Treasurer Daniel Moohkey would also be empowered to ensure that compensation negotiations occur in a 'reasonable time frame' and that an independent person would be appointed to determine compensation if an agreement is not reached. Mr Moohkey said the decision was not taken lightly. 'We are now in a position where the Liberal's privatisation mess means Healthscope's receivers are negotiating the future of the Northern Beaches Hospital,' he said. 'While an agreed exit from this failed PPP contract remains my preference – I must ensure the government has the right to step in and protect the Northern Beaches community from this dragging on.' Mr Park said the state government had 'made it clear from the very beginning that we don't support this sort of arrangement. NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the decision was not taken lightly. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia 'This is a complex contract but the community deserves certainty. 'The other mob may have created this mess, but we are going to be the ones to clean it up.' Healthscope is the country's second-largest hospital operator, with a network of 37 hospitals across Australia. Thousands of staff and patients were left in limbo last month after Canada-based Brookfield Asset Management offered to hand control of the company to lenders. Despite an $100m funding lifeline by Commonwealth Bank and Westpac last month amid the search for a new owner, Healthscope's future remains in doubt. Earlier that month, Wakehurst MP Michael Regan introduced a private members bill to ensure no compensation would be payable on behalf of the state if the contract for the Northern Beaches Hospital was voluntarily terminated. Health Minister Ryan Park would have power to issue a termination notice if an agreement is not reached. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia With trilateral talks ongoing between Healthscope, its receivers, and the Northern Beaches Hospital Taskforce, the state government remained hopeful of a productive outcome, but reserved the right to commit to a voluntary termination. At the time of the receivership, Healthscope CEO Tino La Spina said the hospital network would 'continue to operate as normal' and that the appointment of receivers 'ensures a stable path to a sale, with no impacts on any hospitals, staff or patients' 'There is no interruption to the outstanding care we provide,' she said. 'The receivers and management share the same goal of maintaining our market leading standards of patient care and protecting the business, the hospitals and our amazing people.' McGrathNicol Restructuring had been appointed to work with Healthscope management to complete the sale.
The Wire
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Canada Spy Agency Flags Khalistani Extremism and Indian Foreign Interference in Public Report
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has highlighted both the threat of Khalistani extremism emanating from Canadian soil and concerns over Indian foreign interference in its latest annual public report. spy agency's annual report was submitted to Canada's parliament last week, it was made public on Wednesday (June 18). Earlier this week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Canada to take part in the outreach session of the G7 summit. Modi met new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a symbolic thaw after a nearly-20 month-long diplomatic freeze triggered by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 2023 allegation that Indian government agents were involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen. India had strongly denied the charge, calling it 'absurd' and politically motivated. In the chapter on violent extremism, the report defines politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE) as the encouragement of the 'use of violence to establish new political systems or new structures or norms within existing systems'. It singles out 'Canada-based Khalistani extremists' (CBKEs) as the primary source of such threats in recent decades, accusing them of supporting or planning violent activities aimed at establishing an independent state of Khalistan in India's Punjab region. 'Since the mid-1980s, the PMVE threat in Canada has manifested primarily through Canada-based Khalistani extremists seeking to use and support violent means,' the report says. While it makes a distinction between non-violent Khalistan advocacy – which it says is not considered extremism – and violent activity, the CSIS report says that 'small group of individuals are considered Khalistani extremists because they continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India'. Although no CBKE-linked attacks occurred in Canada in 2024, the CSIS notes that 'ongoing involvement in violent activities by CBKEs continues to pose a national security threat to Canada and Canadian interest'. The agency cautions that 'real and perceived Khalistani extremism' contributes to heightened tensions with India and continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada. the 2023 CSIS annual report made no mention of Khalistan or Khalistani extremism, and references to India were limited to the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the arrest of Indian national Nikhil Gupta in the US, who was charged in a separate alleged plot targeting a dual American-Canadian citizen in New York. By contrast, the scope of the 2024 report is significantly expanded. It accuses the Indian government of conducting foreign interference through 'clandestine, deceptive or threatening' tactics. According to the CSIS, these efforts are aimed at aligning Canadian policies with New Delhi's interests, particularly in relation to Khalistan-related advocacy. The Canadian spy agency lists India alongside China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan as one of the 'main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage against Canada'. It claims that India's interference efforts involve leveraging 'ethnic, religious and cultural communities' and influencing Canadian political discourse. The report says that following Modi's election as prime minister, India's government has increasingly sought to project global influence and suppress what it sees as 'anti-India' activity abroad. At the same time, the CSIS notes that India has 'a long history' of viewing Canada as a haven for anti-India elements – particularly in the context of the 1985 Air India bombing and subsequent Khalistan-related incidents. The report also references the murder investigation of separatist Nijjar, whose killing outside a British Columbia gurdwara in June 2023 led to a diplomatic standoff. Four suspects were arrested in May 2024. In connection with the investigation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced in October that it had uncovered evidence of links between Indian government agents and criminal networks involved in violence against Sikh communities in Canada. of high commissioners and five other diplomats by each country. The CSIS also says that as Public Inquiry on Foreign Interference (PIFI) hearings began in March 2024, the extent of Indian foreign interference became 'clearer'. It warns that 'transnational repression', which it defines as foreign governments targeting diaspora communities to suppress dissent, has become a growing feature of India's intelligence activities in Canada, which it states against the backdrop of the PIFI hearings. The CSIS concludes by stating that it would continue to monitor and assess the scope of India's alleged foreign interference. It asserted that such interference extends beyond diaspora communities to potentially influencing Canada's political institutions and decision-making processes. The agency underlines that Indian activities – both real and alleged – will remain under close scrutiny in the years ahead. It says 'Canada must remain vigilant about continued foreign interference conducted by the Government of India, not only within ethnic, religious and cultural communities but also in Canada's political system.'
