A Saskatchewan judge has ruled that foreign nationals do not have a guaranteed right to immigrate to Canada, rejecting a legal challenge from an Indian lab technician whose provincial permit was revoked over suspected fraud.Court of King’s Bench Justice Andrew Davis said in his ruling that immigration decisions fall within the discretion of government and that applicants have “few or no rights at stake.”“Foreign nationals do not have a right to immigrate to Canada,” Davis wrote. “Neither is there any right to a privileged immigration process. Immigration policy is close to the core of executive discretion.”The case involved a woman from Surat, India who received a permit through Saskatchewan’s Immigrant Nominee Program under the “occupation in demand” category. .Her file was later flagged following anonymous tips alleging ties to a questionable immigration broker, Travel Jockey Immigration & Holidays.An anonymous email claimed the broker sold “fake college degrees” and job offers for $1,000 each, describing the fraud as “so easy.” The applicant denied involvement and offered what she called innocent explanations for the irregularities. However, a provincial investigator said they were “not satisfied” she had not received assistance from the unlicensed agency.Despite her denial, the province revoked her permit. .Davis upheld the decision, writing that the province had “broad discretion” in managing the integrity of its immigration system.“Program integrity is essential to a workable immigration system,” he wrote. “It is essential to maintaining public confidence in and support for a government’s immigration policies.”The ruling comes amid a surge in immigration-related court cases. A March 25 report to Parliament by the Federal Court noted caseloads in immigration matters have quadrupled since 2017, rising from 5,572 to 24,784 applications.The Department of Justice also reported a 378% increase in Legal Aid spending for immigration cases, from $11.5 million annually to $55 million. The Courts Administration Service warned that rising demand threatens public confidence in the legal system without further investment.
