The list is as follows:

1. Ottawa, Ontario: The capital of Canada is one of the most underrated cities in all of Canada. It offers plenty of outdoor activities, is close to the United States and Québec and is an extremely clean city! It also has the highest standard of living in Canada!

2. Québec City, Québec: Cobblestone streets line this old city as it is known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Québec City is the only city in Canada and the United States to still have its original city walls.

3. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Winnipeg is usually ignored as a city but if you look closer, you will see a collection of stunning parks and innovative architecture. Head North to Churchill, Manitoba and you will find polar bears galore!

4. Vancouver, British Columbia: Also known as “Hollywood North”, Vancouver is a popular destination for filming as it is a very scenic city with mountain views. The city is also home to many stunning beaches as it is right on the Pacific Ocean.

5. Calgary, Alberta: A little bit of city mixed with stunning mountain views – you get the best of both worlds! The city is just an hour away from Banff National Park which is home to hiking, camping and canoeing. However, the city is also home to skyscrapers and inner-city neighbourhoods that resemble New York City.

6. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Halifax is home to spectacular beaches, beautiful parks and stunning historic buildings. The city is known to have a warm atmosphere and a vibrant nightlife and is often ranked one of the best cities to live in all of Canada!

7. Whitehorse, Yukon: Whitehorse is the Yukon’s capital city, which lies within its spectacular natural surroundings. This city was made for nature and adventure lovers. Whitehorse also has less air pollution than any other city in the world!

8. St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador: St. John’s is believed to be the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is known for its brightly coloured old buildings and hilly terrain. Did I mention it is right on the Atlantic Ocean?

9. Saint John, New Brunswick: Saint John is home to Reversing Rapids – this is when the tides force the river to flow backwards! Saint John was also the first incorporated city in what would become Canada, and it is located where the Saint John River flows into the Bay of Fundy, making it a popular cruise-ship port.

10. Kelowna, British Columbia: Kelowna is perfect for all seasons; in the warmer months, people are drawn here for the watersports; in the fall it’s time for wine-tasting and in the winter, the action is found at the nearby ski resorts.

To view more beautiful cities that Canada has to offer, click here.

The post 10 Beautiful Canadian Cities That You Need to Visit! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

Vancouver placed 5th, Toronto placed 16th, Ottawa placed 19th and Montreal placed 21st!

This is Toronto’s second year in a row placing 16th on this list!

Here are all the cities that made the top 20:

1. Vienna, Austria
2. Zurich, Switzerland
3. Auckland, New Zealand
4. Munich, Germany
5. Vancouver, Canada
6. Dusseldorf, Germany
7. Frankfurt, Germany
8. Geneva, Switzerland
9. Copenhagen, Denmark
10. Basel, Switzerland
11. Sydney, Australia
12. Amsterdam, Netherlands
13. Berlin, Germany
14. Bern, Switzerland
15. Wellington, New Zealand
16. Toronto, Canada
17. Melbourne, Australia
18. Luxembourg, Luxembourg
19. Ottawa, Canada
20. Hamburg, Germany

To read more, click here.

The post Three Canadian cities have placed in the top 20 on Mercer’s annual Quality of Living Ranking! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

1. Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain: For $60 you can access all of their outdoor baths, steam rooms and saunas. An incredibly relaxing getaway where you can experience ultimate serenity.

2. Elmwood Spa: You can find this spa downtown Toronto! On weekday evenings you can get access to their hot tubs, pool, steam room and lounge area for just $30!

3. Sweetgrass Spa: Located in Toronto’s east end, you can enjoy pool, sauna, jacuzzi and bar for just $50 dollars!

4. Nordik Spa-Nature: A far drive from Toronto, but for those in Ottawa, this spa is just a 25-minute drive. Located in Chelsea, Quebec, you can find an outdoor spa with steam rooms, saunas and so much more for only $60!

5. Lakeside Spa at Oakwood Resort: This spa is located in Grand Bend, which is a great way to escape Toronto for the day. With the purchase of any of their amazing treatments from anti-stress massages to facials, you get access to their relaxing water facilities for $50!

To read more, click here.

The post Feeling the winter blues? Try a Scandinavian spa! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

1. Ziplining over the Elora Gorge!
In the winter time, this summertime favourite turns into a winter wonderland where you can ride a zipline over the snow-covered Elora Gorge.

2. Grab a BeaverTail!
BeaverTails are a Canadian delicacy. They originally opened in Ottawa but have now expanded to Toronto, so make sure to grab one while they’re hot!

3. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in Collingwood
Scenic Caves Nature Advenutres in Collingwood has a really cool snowshoe and cross-country skiing trail that consists of a spectacular suspension bridge that you can actually walk over!

4. Skiing and snowboarding in the mountains
Check out Blue Mountain Ski Resort and stay in a cabin for the weekend with friends and family.

5. Watch the Northern Lights at Torrance Barrens
Torrance Barrens is a dark sky reserve located in Gravenhurst, which is a few hours from Toronto. Strong geomagnetic activity in the area helps to amplify the brilliance of the Northern Lights.

6. Go snowmobiling through Bon Echo
Discover one of Ontario’s snowmobile routes at Bon Echo Provincial Park. It includes a 232-km path that takes you through the whole park. Rent a snowmobile and go on an adventure!

For more ideas, click here.

The post Activities to try this winter in Ontario! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

1. Canada’s lowest recorded temperature is as cold as Mars: Everyone knows that Canada becomes extremely cold during the winter months (December, January, February and March) and sometimes even unbearable, especially when you are waiting outside in a snowstorm for public transit. In Ottawa, Ontario, the average low for the month of January is -14.4C. However, in 1947 in Snag, Yukon, a temperature of -63 C was recorded, which is essentially the same temperature as the surface of Mars!

2. Canada has the world’s largest coastline: Did you know that it would take you four and a half years to walk the length of Canada’s coastline? Given that you don’t stop for sleep, food or water that is. Canada’s coastline is bordered on three sides by three different oceans: the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific. Canada has 202,080 of the world’s total 356,000 kilometres of oceanfront property!

3. Canada’s national parks are larger than most countries: Canada is so massive that some of our national parks cover more land than several countries themselves. Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories is 30,050 square kilometres, which is larger than Albania and Israel! Additionally, Wood Buffalo National Park which stretches from Alberta to the Northwest Territories is even larger, sitting at 44,807 square kilometres, making it larger than Denmark and Switzerland!

4. Canada is home to the largest freshwater island in the world: Manitoulin Island, located in Lake Huron, is the world’s largest island surrounded by freshwater. It has more than one hundred inland lakes between its shores, and many of those lakes have islands on them! There are more than two dozen small settlements, first nations and towns that are spread out across more than 160 kilometres of boreal forest, lakes, rivers and shorelines. To learn more about Manitoulin Island, click here.

5. Canada has more lake area than any other country in the world: Yes, what you just read is true. Canada has 563 lakes that are larger than 100 square kilometres. The Great Lakes alone contain about 18 percent of the world’s fresh lake water.

Want to continue to learn more about Canada? Click here.

The post Awesome facts about Canada that you need to know first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

The gathering at Parliament Hill was certainly a night to remember. Canadians from in and around the city sang along to musical performances, enjoyed the lightscapes show, admired winter-themed art installations, and even took part in a lighting march throughout the city. There were also amazing snacks, such as the oh so Canadian BeaverTail pastries, along with hot chocolate to keep everyone warm!

If you were unable to make it this year, no worries! The entire ceremony and its festivities are available to watch on the Capital Experience Facebook page.

The post Dazzling Lights at Parliament Hill Illuminate the City of Ottawa! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

The event will kick off in just two days’ time, with a musical fireworks show. This is just one of many fun activities to participate in, but let’s not forget the real centre of attention –the tulips that are ready to be admired throughout Ottawa!

The country’s tradition has been going on for decades, after Canada acted as a refuge for the Dutch Royal Family during WWII. As a thank you gift, the Queen sent thousands of tulip bulbs every year until the end of her reign in 1980. Despite this, the tradition continues and is a magnificent as well as colourful sight for all to see. For the full story, click here.

For festival details and event dates, click here.

The post Step Into Spring with the Canadian Tulip Festival! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

With a record attendance of nearly 500 delegates at the annual Canadian Bar Association National Immigration Law Section Conference, the jam-packed three day conference was a tremendous learning, networking, and sharing opportunity. I participated as a speaker in a session titled Federal Court Update: Not Just for Litigators, along with the Honourable Mr. Justice De Montigny, and Keith Reimer from the Department of Justice (Vancouver)– both of whom are excellent speakers. This session was skilfully moderated by Claudia Molina, and was overall, well-attended and productive.

In the paper I wrote for the conference I highlighted the following points:

Each year complex legal issues are decided before the Federal Court as the jurisprudential and legislative evolution of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) in particular, unfolds.  The resulting case law is not just for litigators though, as it impacts every aspect of immigration lawyers’ practices from legal strategy to professional and ethical obligations.  In this paper I will look at three interrelated areas of immigration law that are central not only in the courtrooms, but in boardrooms, in the online clouds, at ports of entry and everywhere in between.

Retrospective Laws

First, the use of retrospective lawmaking has gained significant attention because of the increasing prevalence of this legal tool in immigration law and policy.  Despite a presumption of prospectivity, retrospective law has become part of our working paradigm, altering immigrant client expectations and presenting new challenges for immigrant applicants and lawyers. Retrospective laws can impact predictability and certainty, and can alter the status quo with potentially serious consequences for various applicants. I will examine what retrospective law is, and will provide some practical tips in navigating a challenging area of law.

Ministerial Instructions

Second, I will look at the use of Ministerial Instructions (MIs) in immigration law.  Since the implementation of section 87.3 of the IRPA in 2008, MIs have led to major changes in the Canadian immigration regime. Various immigration categories or applications have been paused, terminated, reformulated, capped, and fundamentally transformed.  Among the many potential questions that arise from these changes, I will focus on what are the legal effects and scope of MIs in the new Express Entry Model (EE).      

Mandmaus

Third, the use of mandamus has increased dramatically in the past few years as applicants attempted to compel processing of certain applications in view of impending changes to the law, mainly termination of Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Investor applications.  I will examine the use of mandamus applications to spur processing.  Among other questions I will examine how long is too long, emerging themes, and what are the key factors in deciding when a mandamus application should be pursued.

Concluding Comments . . .

Overall though, as I have written before, if retrospective laws and MIs that alter the playing field with little to no notice become common place, predictability may be relegated to the scrapheap, replaced by a reality of looming retrospectivity whenever the perceived need arises.  These types of provisions will likely continue to be challenged by applicants.  The new EE system and the ESDC compliance regime are two areas of immigration law that could make use of both retrospective law and MIs that could fuel additional litigation. 

In any event, a legal foundation is not sustainable if immigration categories become moving targets, like for the FSW applicants who could not have known for eight years (in some cases) what was going to come of their FSW application. An immigration program that becomes too nimble may result in unintended consequences.  One may be a breeding ground for unscrupulous representatives to game clients. We must strive to fashion our immigration law in a manner that preserves our international reputation as a country of invitation, fairness and openness and, at the same time, promotes economic, social and cultural nation building on a solid and predictable legal foundation. 

The post CBA Conference – A Huge Success! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

To read more about the index and its findings, please click here.

The post Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal Considered Some Of The Best Cities To Live In first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.