Published 2 hours ago • loading... • Updated 2 hours ago

Immigration lawyers say automation is partly driving a massive Federal Court backlog

In Ottawa, immigration cases at Federal Court have more than quadrupled since 2020, with more than 28,000 filed last year as lawyers link the surge to federal automation tools.
Government documents describe Chinook as a Microsoft Excel-based program designed to "simplify the visual representation" of client information; IRCC states AI tools assist by "triaging applications, identifying routine cases, generating summaries for officers."
Winnipeg immigration lawyer Nalini Reddy reports a decline in decision-making quality over the past three, four years, citing one client's visitor visa rejection that ignored her family ties in the Philippines.
Retired Federal Court chief justice Paul Crampton called the surge "extraordinary," citing systemic resource shortfall; Koltun stated that 44 Federal Court judges is not sustainable.
In recent years, IRCC has received application volumes exceeding the number of admissions spaces available under the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, driving ongoing Federal Court caseload pressures.

Insights by Ground AI

10 Articles

Winnipeg Free Press

+9 Reposted by 9 other sources

Center

Immigration lawyers say automation is partly driving a massive Federal Court backlog

OTTAWA - The number of immigration cases being brought to Federal Court has more than quadrupled since 2020 — and some immigration lawyers are linking the surge in part to the federal government's use of artificial intelligence and automation to clear visa application backlogs.

7 hours ago·Winnipeg, Canada

Read Full Article

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/year