April 15, 2014

Termination of the Federal Investor and Entrepreneur Classes

Dear Interested Parties:

The Government has tabled legislation to terminate investor and entrepreneur applications on the terms set out below. We have been contacted by various applicants to consider taking legal action against the decision to terminate. We will do so on behalf of our clients. If you are interested in joining the action please contact us immediately at info@bellissimolawgroup.com.

Pending applications
87.5 (1) An application by a foreign national for a permanent resident visa as a member of the prescribed class of investors or of entrepreneurs is terminated if, before February 11, 2014, it has not been established by an officer, in accordance with the regulations, whether the applicant meets the selection criteria and other requirements applicable to the class in question.

Application
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to (a) an application in respect of which a superior court has made a final determination unless the determination is made on or after February 11, 2014; or (b) an application made by an investor or entrepreneur who is selected as such by a province whose government has entered into an agreement referred to in subsection 9(1).

Effect
(3) The fact that an application is terminated under subsection (1) does not constitute a decision not to issue a permanent resident visa.

Fees returned
(4) Any fees paid to the Minister in respect of the application referred to in subsection (1) — including for the acquisition of permanent resident status — must be returned, without interest, to the person who paid them. The amounts payable may be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Investment returned
(5) If an application for a permanent resident visa as a member of the prescribed class of investors is terminated under subsection (1), an amount equal to the investment made by the applicant in respect of their application must be returned, without interest, to the applicant. The amount may be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Provincial allocation
(6) If the provincial allocation of an investment made in respect of an application for a permanent resident visa as a member of the prescribed class of investors that is terminated under subsection (1) has been transferred to an approved fund, as defined in subsection 88(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, the province whose government controls the approved fund must return an amount equal to that provincial allocation to the Minister without delay. The return of the amount extinguishes the debt obligation in respect of that provincial allocation.

No recourse or indemnity
(7) No right of recourse or indemnity lies against Her Majesty in right of Canada in connection with an application that is terminated under subsection (1), including in respect of any contract or other arrangement relating to any aspect of the application.