On a mission to serve Immigration Consultants in Canada

Dory Jade is the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants, a 2000-member strong organization advocating for the legal framework and culture of the industry. Jade, who has been a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant for over 15 years, works closely with senior government officials at the federal and provincial levels and the organization’s Board of Directors. 

Jade graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s in Communications and earned his Chartered Director designation from the Directors College at McMaster University’s De Groote School of Business. He helped to create the Immigration Consultancy Program at Vanier College and CEGEP Saint-Laurent, where he has also lectured. 

What is the role and mission of CAPIC and how many members do you have? 

CAPIC is the association that represents Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. It leads, connects, protects, and develops the profession, serving the best interests of its more than 2000 members. 

What is your professional background and why did you want to become involved in this industry? 

I have a bachelor's degree in Communications and have been involved in immigration and the immigration consulting industry for over 15 years. This environment has afforded me a better understanding of the global issues and challenges that affect every nation. Individuals across the world are looking for novel ways to access mobility. 

From refugees to investors, today's immigration climate favors a person's ability to relocate and gain opportunities on a global scale. In varying capacities, I have helped many individuals to relocate and understand the immigration laws that shape their world, and I have improved the ability of RCICs to provide quality counsel. In my capacity as CAPIC CEO, I have had the pleasure to be part of one of the most vibrant immigration groups worldwide. 

When and how did you become president of CAPIC? 

I was elected CAPIC president in May 2013 and served as president and chair of the board until June 2016. In October 2016 I was hired as CEO. As a chartered director and expert in corporate governance, I have worked closely with external consultants and the board to bring forward a sound governance model and implement best practice according to corporate governance rules.   

What have you accomplished as CEO and what is your goal for the future?  

CAPIC had around 500 members as of June 2016. Today the organization is over 2000 members strong. It has concluded several agreements with stakeholders and was recognized by the Government of Canada as the only association representing the immigration consulting community. Over the past five years, CAPIC has been on a very successful growth curve, which has seen the introduction of many new member-driven services including MyConsultant.ca, the IMMeForum (the largest immigration practitioner forum in Canada), and the Education Partner Program (connecting Designated Learning Institutions with international students through RCICs). During this time CAPIC has also been very active in advocating for the profession, fostering a strong relationship with both the Government of Canada and the provincial governments. All its registered members are recognized by the ICCRC, which regulates immigration consultants in Canada. 

CAPIC's board has also adopted a strategic plan that has set the objectives and mechanisms through which we were able to achieve remarkable results in a very short period of time. Representing an organization that is “by the members for the members,” volunteers continue to play a vital role in CAPIC's improvement. 

How would you describe the Canadian provincial programs and the role of the immigration consultants? 

The Canadian government has currently delegated the investment and entrepreneurship programs to the provinces. Other than the start-up visa program, there are no federal immigrant investor programs. I strongly believe that this should change, however, since immigration is part of the federal government's jurisdiction. It needs to develop national programs allowing foreign investments to come to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. 

Have you seen any changes in Canada's immigration regulations recently that may impact the investors and where they come from? 

Since the latter half of the 20th century, Canada has welcomed all potential immigrants without racial or geographic discrimination, placing an emphasis instead on skills and competence. Although the immigrant investor program is open to any citizen in the world, Chinese nationals remain the most interested in Canada. 

While the federal government has delegated most of the programs to the provinces, stakeholders continue to push the federal government to attract foreign wealth, which could then be invested in infrastructure projects. 

What are some of the challenges with the Canadian programs and what's unique about them? 

After closing the largest immigrant investor program in 2014 – which for decades had attracted tens of thousands of people to Canada – the federal government must develop (with the help of stakeholders) an innovative, attractive, and modern program. Immigrant investor programs are unique because they provide foreign investors with the opportunity to become permanent residents and citizens of Canada, one of the best countries in the world. And while they do exist at the provincial level, the provinces are finding it difficult to retain investors who prefer mobility rather than being tied down to a city or province. Mobility rights are, after all, a central facet of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedom. 

What are some recent trends of the investment immigration market that you have seen? 

As global wealth grows, so too does the minimum investment requirement of today’s immigrant investor programs. Indeed, the programs have begun to look more closely at the source of investments and the benefits of additional requirements. Canada’s programs are no different. The meticulous process currently in place is the measure of the system’s integrity. 

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