CSIC’s 2011 legal challenge: what happened and what followed
In 2011, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) went to Federal Court to challenge the federal government’s plan to replace it with a new regulator for immigration consultants. CSIC argued the selection process was biased, unreasonable, and unfair, and asked the Court to pause the transition while the case was heard.
Background
On June 30, 2011, the Minister responsible for immigration designated a new body—the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC)—to regulate immigration consultants under changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. CSIC, which had been the self-regulatory body at the time, disputed the decision and sought legal review.
The court filings
- CSIC filed an Application for Leave and for Judicial Review, seeking permission to challenge the Minister’s designation decision.
- CSIC also filed a Motion for a Stay, asking the Court to temporarily prevent the government from proceeding with the switch to the new regulator until the litigation concluded.
What happened next
Despite the legal challenge, the government’s transition moved ahead and ICCRC assumed regulatory responsibilities in 2011. Over time, Canada further strengthened oversight. In 2021, Parliament established the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) as a statutory regulator under the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act, replacing ICCRC and giving the regulator enhanced enforcement powers.
Today’s context (as of 2025)
- CSIC no longer regulates immigration consultants.
- The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) is the current national regulator with statutory authority.
- Lawyers and Quebec notaries remain authorized representatives through their respective law societies and professional orders.
Finding official court records
To review historical filings related to CSIC’s 2011 court applications, use the Federal Court of Canada online docket search and look up “Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants” as a party name:
- Federal Court dockets: https://www.fct-cf.gc.ca
Summary of the 2011 dispute in plain language
CSIC tried to stop Ottawa from replacing it with a new regulator, saying the selection process wasn’t fair. The Court did not halt the transition, ICCRC became the regulator in 2011, and in 2021 the statutory College (CICC) took over with stronger consumer-protection tools.