When I started Canopy Immigration Law, I knew that the firm had to have a larger philosophy than just being a vehicle for capitalism. Immigration law has never been just that for me. It's always such a great area of law for connecting with individuals, families, the people behind growing businesses, and all the hopes and dreams held by them all.
To that end, I made a pledge right on this website that as a Canadian immigrant driving further immigration to Canada, I would take seriously the responsibility to ally with the original inhabitants of Kanata and Tkarón:to, and that I would be dedicating a portion of firm proceeds in solidarity with these communities.
On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I made the first of what I hope will be many contributions to the work being done towards reconciliation. I know so many lawyers who take today to reflect, and I'm proud to be colleagues with all of you. I hope that more and more will use our privileges to support the (seemingly endless) work being done day in and day out to heal from the wounds of the past.
I hope as well that immigration lawyers take a minute to look into the ways in which the current federal government under Prime Minister Carney and Immigration Minister Diab are erasing government commitments to First Nations communities.
It has not escaped my notice that between January 2026 and April 2026, IRCC has quietly removed the language explicitly allowing C10 Significant Benefit applications to be applied for the benefit of "people registered as Indians under the Indian Act".
Though I have yet to notice a change in actual processing, the change in the language that's supposed to be guiding IRCC staff certainly paves the way for it in the future.
There'll be a lot of laudatory comments from official sources today about truth and reconciliation. But actions matter more than words, and we need to keep paying attention today and every day.