The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto is pleased to announce and welcome the launch of the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA).
CILA was established with a mission to promote justice and fairness in citizenship and immigration law and to advocate for improvements to immigration-related policies and departmental operations through public dialogue, submissions, coalition-building, court interventions and test litigation.
Among its key priorities, CILA strives to:
- Advocate for marginalized newcomers who are often vulnerable and racialized;
- Advocate for the protection and promotion of competent, ethical, and lawful representation;
- Establish a charity division to solicit donations and fund research litigation on important matters to immigration lawyers and stakeholders;
- Form exigent coalitions with other immigration, human rights, and refugee lawyer groups
in Canada and abroad; - Leverage technology to catalogue, research, organize and mobilize immigration materials and resources for immigration lawyers;
- Provide timely comment and action on breaking citizenship and immigration issues;
- Raise and direct funds as needed for specific initiatives to the advantage of immigration lawyers and stakeholders, which will ultimately benefit future Canadians;
- Strongly support pro bono initiatives.
As a peer organization of CILA, SABA Toronto supports the founding of this key organization and welcomes its actions to advocate for citizenship, refugee and immigration issues and professionals working in this domain in Canada. “We are pleased to support CILA and its leadership,” stated SABA President, Devin Persaud. “In these uncertain times, their mandate is needed now more than ever. SABA is proud to support those who advocate for the most vulnerable in our society.”
About SABA Toronto
The South Asian Bar Association of Toronto is Canada’s largest equity-seeking bar organization, dedicated to promoting the objectives of South Asian members of the legal profession. SABA represents South Asian legal professionals and ensures that their interests are recognized, respected and voiced with the Law Society of Ontario and various levels of provincial and federal government. SABA aims to unite its over 800 members, deliver programming for professional growth and advancement, promote access to justice and give back to South Asian communities. Its membership is dynamic, ever-expanding and includes legal professionals from large and small law firms, sole practitioners, government agencies and departments, nonprofit organizations, and corporations. Members of the judiciary, academics and law students also form an integral part of SABA Toronto.
