Peter served as a senior founding partner of the firm until the end of 2020. Peter practiced Canadian immigration law since 1986, and developed a solid understanding of the Canadian immigration system, as well as the needs of his clients. Peter’s focus was on enforcement areas, dealing with Canada Border Services Agency and Citizenship and Immigration on behalf of clients. Peter regularly represented clients on appeal before the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board and those who were subject to deportation or other enforcement proceedings, including loss of status for non-compliance with residency obligations.
- Advocated on behalf of clients under enforcement proceedings or where family class sponsors appeal the refusal of applications by family members; over 115 reported decisions before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court, the vast majority of which are successfully resolved.
- Routinely represented permanent residents requiring renewal of Permanent Resident cards and advocates on behalf of those clients who are required to appeal a loss of status to the Immigration and Refugee Board.
- Assisted applicants for immigration to Canada under various programs including Skilled Worker Class, Canada Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Programs, Family Class including spousal sponsorship, In-Canada Spousal Class, Humanitarian and Compassionate categories.
- Represented international shipping companies in the relocation of staff and operations to Canada, following a lobby effort to amend the Income Tax Act allowing for the establishment of management operations in Canada.
- Frequently assisted refugee claimants in obtaining Permanent Resident Status.
- Regularly liaised with Canada Border Services Agency and Citizenship and Immigration Canada to resolve issues affecting client status.
- Located and arranged for the release of clients detained by CBSA.
- 2019 – Presented at IMMSeminars on “How to avoid a Misrepresentation for a client”
- 2014 – Presenter, BC’s Provincial Nominee Program Overview and Update, MacDonald Realty
- 2014 – Presenter, Submissions and Presentations in the course of Immigration Representation, CAPIC
- 2014 – Chair, Business Law – Not Business as Usual, CLEBC
- 2013 – Presenter, Misrepresentation: Your Mother was Right–Honesty is the Best Policy, IMEDA.
- 2012 – Co-chair and Course Materials Coordinator, Business Immigration – 2012 Update, CLEBC
- 2011 – Presenter, Expert Witnesses in Immigration Cases, CBA (BC) Immigration Subsection
- 2010 – Chair, Business Law – Not Business as Usual, CLEBC
- 2000 – 2010, Sessional Instructor, Certificate in Immigration: Laws, Policies and Practices, Department of Continuing Studies, University of British Columbia
- 2009 – Immigration Issues in Depth, CBSA and CIC Interviews – When and What Do You Have to Answer? CBA (BC)
- 2008 – Presenter, Immigration Issues in Depth, Ethical Issues in Working with Consultants, CLEBC
- 2008 – Co-chair and Course Presenter, Business Immigration – 2008, Business Immigration and Knowing Your Client: Impact of Bill C-50 and the Withering Entrepreneur Category, CLEBC
- 2007 – CBA National Immigration Law Conference, Immigration Law Office Management Practices, CBA
- 2007 – Presenter, The Foreign Worker Option for Labour Shortages, BC Wall and Building Association
- 2007 – Presenter, Impact of Bill C-50 on Humanitarian and Compassionate Applications Overseas, Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants, CAPIC
- 2007 – Presenter, CBSA and the Use of Search Warrants, CAPIC
- Research Committee Member, Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal Party of Canada Candidate, North Vancouver, 2014
- Honorary Consul for the Kingdom or Lesotho and a member of the British Columbia Consular Corps, 2002 – present
- Federal steering group on the implementation of an alternative dispute resolution model for the Immigration and Refugee Board, Appeal Division, 2008 – 2010
- Government of Canada: Clerk of Privy Council Head of Public Service Award for volunteer advisory work, 2010
- House of Commons Parliamentary Committee on Citizenship and Immigration: Expert Witness, “Humanitarian and Compassionate Processing in Canada”, 2007
- Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Minister’s Advisory Group on Investor Immigration, 1999
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Summary
Peter served as a senior founding partner of the firm until the end of 2020. Peter practiced Canadian immigration law since 1986, and developed a solid understanding of the Canadian immigration system, as well as the needs of his clients. Peter’s focus was on enforcement areas, dealing with Canada Border Services Agency and Citizenship and Immigration on behalf of clients. Peter regularly represented clients on appeal before the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board and those who were subject to deportation or other enforcement proceedings, including loss of status for non-compliance with residency obligations.
EDUCATION / BAR ADMISSIONS
- Bar Admission, British Columbia, 1986
- LL.B. , University of Victoria, 1985 and University of New Brunswick
- B.A. (Hons), Bishop’s University
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
- Member, Law Society of British Columbia, 1986 – Present
- Member, Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia, Immigration Section
- Executive Member
- Delegate to Appeal Division Consultative Committee (2004-2010)
- Chair, Overseas Committee
- Member (1982- present)
Community Involvement
- Research Committee Member, Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal Party of Canada Candidate, North Vancouver, 2014
- Honorary Consul for the Kingdom or Lesotho and a member of the British Columbia Consular Corps, 2002 – present
- Federal steering group on the implementation of an alternative dispute resolution model for the Immigration and Refugee Board, Appeal Division, 2008 – 2010
- Government of Canada: Clerk of Privy Council Head of Public Service Award for volunteer advisory work, 2010
- House of Commons Parliamentary Committee on Citizenship and Immigration: Expert Witness, “Humanitarian and Compassionate Processing in Canada”, 2007
- Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Minister’s Advisory Group on Investor Immigration, 1999
-
Representative Work
- Advocated on behalf of clients under enforcement proceedings or where family class sponsors appeal the refusal of applications by family members; over 115 reported decisions before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court, the vast majority of which are successfully resolved.
- Routinely represented permanent residents requiring renewal of Permanent Resident cards and advocates on behalf of those clients who are required to appeal a loss of status to the Immigration and Refugee Board.
- Assisted applicants for immigration to Canada under various programs including Skilled Worker Class, Canada Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Programs, Family Class including spousal sponsorship, In-Canada Spousal Class, Humanitarian and Compassionate categories.
- Represented international shipping companies in the relocation of staff and operations to Canada, following a lobby effort to amend the Income Tax Act allowing for the establishment of management operations in Canada.
- Frequently assisted refugee claimants in obtaining Permanent Resident Status.
- Regularly liaised with Canada Border Services Agency and Citizenship and Immigration Canada to resolve issues affecting client status.
- Located and arranged for the release of clients detained by CBSA.
-
Publications/Presentations
- 2019 – Presented at IMMSeminars on “How to avoid a Misrepresentation for a client”
- 2014 – Presenter, BC’s Provincial Nominee Program Overview and Update, MacDonald Realty
- 2014 – Presenter, Submissions and Presentations in the course of Immigration Representation, CAPIC
- 2014 – Chair, Business Law – Not Business as Usual, CLEBC
- 2013 – Presenter, Misrepresentation: Your Mother was Right–Honesty is the Best Policy, IMEDA.
- 2012 – Co-chair and Course Materials Coordinator, Business Immigration – 2012 Update, CLEBC
- 2011 – Presenter, Expert Witnesses in Immigration Cases, CBA (BC) Immigration Subsection
- 2010 – Chair, Business Law – Not Business as Usual, CLEBC
- 2000 – 2010, Sessional Instructor, Certificate in Immigration: Laws, Policies and Practices, Department of Continuing Studies, University of British Columbia
- 2009 – Immigration Issues in Depth, CBSA and CIC Interviews – When and What Do You Have to Answer? CBA (BC)
- 2008 – Presenter, Immigration Issues in Depth, Ethical Issues in Working with Consultants, CLEBC
- 2008 – Co-chair and Course Presenter, Business Immigration – 2008, Business Immigration and Knowing Your Client: Impact of Bill C-50 and the Withering Entrepreneur Category, CLEBC
- 2007 – CBA National Immigration Law Conference, Immigration Law Office Management Practices, CBA
- 2007 – Presenter, The Foreign Worker Option for Labour Shortages, BC Wall and Building Association
- 2007 – Presenter, Impact of Bill C-50 on Humanitarian and Compassionate Applications Overseas, Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants, CAPIC
- 2007 – Presenter, CBSA and the Use of Search Warrants, CAPIC
