Smart Immigration:
Canada’s Defining Move.
Real conversations. Real solutions. Shaping Canada’s future by reimagining economic immigration and unlocking the transformative potential of business immigration.
About This Initiative
What is Catalyst Canada?
Catalyst Canada is an initiative by the Business Immigration Committee of CILA. Our mission is simple: Break the silos and bring together lawyers, business leaders, policymakers, academics, civil society, and government to secure Canada’s future by fixing our immigration system.
Roundtable Highlights
Let's address the elephant in the room...
Beyond GDP. Beyond IRCC!
We need a NEW Investment Program!
Problem Statement
The Case for
Business Immigration
Public trust in Canada’s immigration system is eroding – not because of intolerance, but because it’s failing to deliver economic results. Business immigration – representing less than 0.2% of intake – is an untapped powerhouse. We’re missing the opportunity to attract the world’s brightest innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs – the very people who drive job creation, innovation, and long-term economic resilience. It’s not about increasing numbers – it’s about attracting the right talent, creating the right incentives, and building a system that works. Business immigration is Canada’s most powerful tool for rebuilding our economy – if we get it right.
Entrepreneurial Vacuum
Canada’s entrepreneurship rate has halved over the last 20 years. Yet business immigration accounts for less than 0.2% of total intake, the lowest among advanced economies. Without immediate action, Canada’s ability to create jobs and drive innovation keeps declining.
Succession Cliff
A wave of baby boomer retirements is about to leave thousands of businesses without successors – putting jobs, industries, and local economies at risk. Business immigration could close this gap and secure Canada’s economic future.
Losing the Global Edge
Countries like the US, Australia, and the UAE are aggressively courting high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs with fast, streamlined pathways. The UAE issued 250,000 golden visas in 2023. The US has 12,000 investors lined up – Canada has zero.
Productivity Emergency
Canada’s productivity growth is stalling, and business investment is drying up. We need more than just workers – we need entrepreneurs and innovators who can create jobs, drive investment, and boost long-term economic resilience.
40+ Months
Start-Up Visa delays keep applicants stuck in a backlog of over 3 years.
CLOSED
No federal program for non-innovative entrepreneurs.
CLOSED
Ontario no longer offers a program for entrepreneurs.
CLOSED
No federal investor pathway - a $100B+ market left wide open.
Immediate Action Needed
Canada is losing the world’s best innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs to more welcoming destinations.
With a $1.5 trillion succession tsunami looming and urgent gaps in infrastructure, venture capital, and productivity, business immigration isn’t just an opportunity - it’s an economic necessity.
How?
Our Blueprint for Change
1. Listen
We host roundtables with stakeholders to generate actionable solutions.
2. Build
We turn insights into a report with a clear roadmap.
3. Act
we engage policymakers to turn solutions into outcomes.
Featured Guests
Thought Leaders in Action
Catalyst Canada thrives on the insights of trailblazers in business, policy, and academia. Their expertise fuels the conversations that will reform and strengthen Canada’s economic immigration system.
Andrew Griffith
Author, Blogger, Former Director General of Multicultrualims at IRCC
Andrew Griffith is the author of Multiculturalism in Canada: Evidence and Anecdote, Policy Arrogance or Innocent Bias: Resetting Citizenship and Multiculturalism and Because it’s 2015 … Implementing Diversity and Inclusion. He is a regular media commentator and blogger (Multiculturalism Meanderings). Andrew is the former Director General for Citizenship and Multiculturalism and has worked for a variety of government departments in Canada and abroad. He is a fellow of the Environics Institute.
Ümit Kiziltan
Economist, Educator, Fromer Chief Data Officer at IRCC
Ümit Kiziltan is an economist and educator who served in Canada’s public service from 2006 to 2023, including as Chief Data Officer and Director General of Research at IRCC. He has led major policy initiatives in refugee health, multiculturalism, and citizenship, and previously worked with Indigenous communities and international development projects. He is committed to evidence-based policy and strengthening democratic institutions.
Jean-Francois Harvey
Founder & Managing Partner - Harvey Law Group (HLG)
Harvey Law Group (HLG) was founded in 1992 by Jean-François Harvey, a University of Ottawa law graduate and member of the Québec and Canadian Bar Associations. Recognized internationally for his expertise in immigration law, he provides legal services to corporations and high-net-worth individuals. He also has extensive experience in commercial law, including due diligence and mergers and acquisitions. HLG serves a broad range of multinational industries with comprehensive legal solutions.
David Garson
Partner - Garson Immigration Law
David Crawford, Managing Partner of Fragomen Canada, is a member of its Global Executive Committee with extensive experience in skilled and business migration. He advises companies across sectors like tech, engineering, and finance, as well as high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs. Previously, he was a Partner at Fragomen in the UK, a founding Partner in Australia, and served as an Australian diplomat. He is also a Canadian Barrister & Solicitor.
David Crawford
Managing Partner, Fragomen Canada
David Garson, Managing Partner of Garson Immigration Law, is a certified Specialist in Immigration Law with over 30 years of experience. Recognized among Canada’s top 10 immigration lawyers, he advises executives, individuals, and multinational corporations on cross-border business immigration. His clients include major IT firms in semiconductor design, software development, and IT finance. A former Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Immigration Section, he remains active in key legal associations.
Charles W. Pley
Founder & Principal Lawyer, Immigration Solutions Law Group
Charles W. Pley, Founder and Principal Attorney of Pley Immigration, is a certified Specialist in Immigration and Citizenship Law with over 30 years of experience. Dual-licensed in Ontario and New York, he leads a multidisciplinary team delivering Canadian, U.S., and international immigration solutions. A former diplomat with postings in Singapore, Germany, and the U.S., he also held advisory roles at Canada’s immigration headquarters. A sought-after speaker and published author, he is a Lifetime Fellow of CAPIC and a member of leading legal and immigration associations.
Sarah Adler
Senior Immigration Lawyer, McCarthy Tétrault
Sarah, Senior Immigration Lawyer in Toronto, has over 15 years of experience advising individuals, entrepreneurs, and multinational corporations in industries like engineering, healthcare, IT, and finance. She has spoken on Express Entry, work permits, and the intersection of tax and immigration rules. From 2020-2022, Sarah served on the board of Talent Beyond Boundaries, supporting refugee relocation through economic immigration. She is a member of the New York State Bar and the Law Society of Ontario.
Immi Sikand
Principal - Sikand Immigration Law
Immi Sikand, a Certified Specialist in Immigration Law, has over 20 years of experience in Canadian immigration and citizenship law. A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School with a background in economics, she specializes in business immigration. As founder of Sikand Immigration Law and Counsel at Fogler Rubinoff LLP, she focuses on the Start-Up Visa, Provincial Nominee Programs, and work permits. She advises entrepreneurs, professionals, and corporations while leading immigration webinars and professional programs.
Stephen Green
Managing Partner - Green & Spiegel
Stephen Green, Managing Partner at Green and Spiegel, is a Certified Specialist in Immigration Law with over 35 years of experience. He specializes in business immigration, corporate transfers, and employer compliance, advising multinational corporations and startups. Leading the firm’s Investment and Entrepreneur Department, he helps high-net-worth individuals secure permanent residence. A former Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Immigration Section, he has also advised IRCC on key policies.
Cosmina Morariu
Partner - Fragomen
Cosmina Morariu is an immigration lawyer with over 18 years of experience, specializing in Canadian immigration. She advises businesses and individuals on work permits, LMIAs, compliance, and permanent residence. As head of the private client and French practices in Canada, she develops strategic immigration policies. Committed to pro bono work, she supports refugees, women, and children. An immigrant herself, she blends legal expertise with personal insight into newcomer challenges.
Randolph Hahn
Partner - Garson Immigration Law
Randolph is a certified Specialist in Immigration Law, recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada, Who’s Who Legal, and Chambers Global. He advises on executive transfers, corporate immigration, and permanent residence applications. As an Associate Editor for The Immigration Law Reporter, he co-edits A Practical Guide to Provincial Nominee Programs. He also represents clients in immigration litigation, appearing before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Colin Singer
Founder & President - Immigraiton.ca
Colin is the founder and President of immigration.ca, Canada’s longest-standing immigration platform, attracting millions of visitors each year. A sought-after corporate immigration lawyer, he has been licensed with the Bar of Quebec for over 35 years. A recognized authority on global immigration policies, Colin contributes to the immigration.ca website and Law360, a LexisNexis publication. Since 2009, he has been a lifetime Governor of Fondation du Barreau du Québec, committed to advancing the profession.
Zeynab Moayyed Ziaie
Lawyer - MyVisa.Law
Zeynab is a Canadian immigration lawyer specializing in business and immigration law, advising international entrepreneurs on visas and immigration pathways. She represents clients before the Federal Court of Canada, handling complex cases involving AI in immigration decisions. A thought leader in this area, she frequently writes and speaks on AI’s implications in immigration law, while also developing tools to improve accessibility and efficiency in the immigration system.
Kenneth Zaifman
Founding & Managing Partner - Zaifman Law
Kenneth Zaifman, a lawyer since 1976, began his immigration career with the R. v. Cole case in 1979. In 1986, he founded Zaifman Associates, now a team of 12, including three immigration-focused lawyers. He has chaired the Canadian Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the Manitoba Bar Association. Zaifman has also been involved in international legal organizations, attending conferences globally, making significant contributions to immigration law.
Pantea Jafari
Founder & Lead Counsel - Jafari Law
Pantea Jafari is the founder of Jafari Law, helping clients navigate Canada’s immigration system since 2012. A first-generation Canadian, her personal experience shapes her empathetic advocacy. She played a key role in the Tafreshi v. MCI case, securing a landmark Federal Court ruling. Pantea serves on the Canadian Bar Association’s Anti-Racism Committee and speaks at legal and community events. She holds degrees in Human Rights, International Law, and specializes in immigration law.
Catherine Sas
Founding Partner - Sas & Ing Immigration
Catherine is an immigration lawyer with over 30 years of experience, recognized by Lexpert and Best Lawyers in Canada. She specializes in cross-border immigration for the film, television, and digital media industries. Catherine has held leadership roles with the Canadian Bar Association and International Bar Association. A frequent speaker and policy advisor, she contributes to trade missions, parliamentary committees, and international conferences. Catherine helps global clients navigate Canada’s immigration system.
Carter Hoppe
Canadian Immigration Lawyer
Carter C. Hoppe, born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1976. Mr. Hoppe is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. Mr. Hoppe has been advising and representing people from all over the world on immigration matters for over forty years. Mr. Hoppe has practiced law in both the Emirate of Dubai, UAE, and the Province of Ontario, Canada.
Clients include Skilled Workers, Students, Visitors, Business Persons and Citizenship Applicants.
Our Sponsors
Recent Roundtables
Subscribe to Catalyst Canada Youtube Channel
Latest Discussions
- Zeynab Moayyed Ziaie, Stephen Green, David Garson, Siavash Shekarian
- 1 hr 27 mins
- 23 Apr 2025
Beyond the Start-Up Visa Program: Canada’s Business Immigration Is Falling Behind| Roundtable #3
With the federal self-employed program suspended and the Start-Up Visa facing serious delays and oversight concerns, Canada’s business immigration system is under pressure. In this roundtable, Siavash Shekarian, host of Catalyst Canada, brings together leading immigration lawyers David Garson, Stephen Green, and Zeynab Ziaie Movahed to examine what’s going wrong—and what needs to change. From credibility issues and customer service failures to the urgent need for diversified pathways, the panel explores how Canada can rebuild trust, improve outcomes, and create a more effective framework for entrepreneurs and investors.
Past Discussions
- Andrew Griffith, Ümit Kiziltan, Siavash Shekarian
- 1 hr 19 mins
- 16 Apr 2025
Beyond GDP, Beyond IRCC: Rethinking Success and Administration in Business Immigration | Roundtable #6
Canada’s business immigration system is one of its most overlooked economic tools—and this roundtable is all about rethinking it. Hosted by Siavash Shekarian, Chair of CILA’s Business Immigration Committee, the discussion features Andrew Griffith, former Director General of Citizenship and Multiculturalism at IRCC, and Ümit Kiziltan, former Chief Data Officer and Director General of Research & Evaluation at IRCC. Together, they unpack what’s working, what’s broken, and what must urgently change—from flawed evaluation metrics and failed investor program legacies, to untapped data potential and the shortcomings of the Start-up Visa. They also explore whether IRCC is still the right body to lead business immigration, and the need for transparency, institutional reform, and true public–private collaboration.
- Sarah Adler, David Crawford, Charles Pley, Siavash Shekarian
- 1 hr 30 mins
- 1 Apr 2025
Canada’s Immigration System Is Missing Its Biggest Economic Opportunity | Roundtable #5
Canada’s immigration system is failing to deliver on its economic promise. With business immigrants making up only 0.2% of total economic immigration, are we neglecting a critical pathway for innovation, investment, and job creation? In this powerful roundtable, moderated by Siavash Shekarian, Catalyst Canada convenes leading immigration lawyers—Sarah Adler, David Crawford, and Charles Pley—to unpack what's broken in Canada's business immigration framework and how to fix it.
- Kenneth Zaifman, Colin Singer, Jean-François Harvey, Siavash Shekarian
- 1 hr 23 mins
- 7 Apr 2025
From Criticism to Constructive Reform: The Case for a New Federal Investor Program | Roundtable #1
Canada needs to reintroduce a modern federal investor immigration program, and this roundtable is all about it. Hosted by Siavash Shekarian, Chair of CILA’s Business Immigration Committee, the discussion features leading immigration lawyers Kenneth Zaifman, Colin Singer, and Jean-François Harvey. Together, they examine how Canada can design a credible and competitive program that avoids past mistakes, responds to global investment migration trends, and balances public trust with effective policy. With over 80 countries actively competing for high-net-worth individuals, the panel makes a strong case for timely action.
- Siavash Shekarian
- 7 mins
- 27 Mar 2025
What is Catalyst Canada and why it matters?
Canada’s future depends on smart immigration. With an existential crisis compounding declining entrepreneurship, stalling productivity, and fierce global competition, Canada is losing ground. It’s time to come together - and it’s time to act. Catalyst Canada is the bridge, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and experts to drive bold reforms in economic immigration - turning challenges into opportunities and securing Canada’s economic future.
Guests’ Spotlights!
Our Team
Siavash Shekarian
Founder & Spokesperson
Siavash Shekarian is a business immigration lawyer, entrepreneur, and advocate with an engineering background. He advises startups and scaling businesses, navigating international disputes, including a multi-billion-dollar arbitration. Siavash has co-founded ventures in education, trade, real estate, and technology, serving as a legal advisor on various boards. As Chair of CILA’s Business Immigration Committee, he advocates for reform in Canada’s immigration system and works with global policy organizations like UNODC and UNICEF, while leading SHEKARIAN LAW PC to help entrepreneurs succeed in Canada.
Vishal Awtani
Stakeholder Collaboration Lead
Vishal is a corporate and immigration lawyer licensed in both India and Canada, with a background in business consulting. After a decade of legal experience in India, he founded GRAY JAY LAW PC in Canada. Vishal helps foreign entrepreneurs expand into Canada by offering legal and operational support, combining his business and legal expertise. He is dedicated to bridging the gap between business immigrants and policymakers through Catalyst Canada. His work focuses on creating practical solutions for corporate immigration clients, while also advocating for policies that support the growth of immigrant-led businesses in Canada.
Albertson Otchengco
Stakeholder Engagement Lead
Albertson joined CILA’s Business Immigration Committee and Catalyst Canada with the belief that catalyzing innovation in Canada will uplift the lives of his fellow immigrants. A business and start-up lawyer in the Philippines, Albertson immigrated to Canada in 2024 and is currently working toward becoming a licensed lawyer in Canada. He is currently working at LJD Law, an immigration law firm in Toronto, where his practice focuses on economic and business immigration. Albertson is dedicated to supporting immigrants through legal guidance, fostering opportunities for their success, and contributing to discussions on improving Canada’s immigration policies.
Join Catalyst Canada
This is an inclusive initiative, and we’re calling on diverse voices to help shape Canada’s future. Whether you’re a thought leader, expert, or simply passionate about what Canada can achieve through immigration, we want to hear from you.
Be a Guest
Share your expertise as a featured speaker.
Be a Sponsor
Support the initiative and gain recognition.
Share Your Insights
Have research, ideas, or leads? Let us know how we can make this initiative stronger.
Become an Ambassador
Passionate about impact? Click on the icon to apply and become a Catalyst Canada Ambassador!
