Latest news with #Non-Canadians
Cision Canada
30-06-2025
- General
- Cision Canada
Governor General appoints 83 individuals to the Order of Canada
OTTAWA, ON, June 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, has made 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including 2 Companions, 19 Officers and 62 Members. One appointment is a promotion within the Order, and another represents an honorary appointment. The Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System. Since its creation in 1967, more than 8 200 people from all sectors of society have been appointed to the Order. The contributions of these trailblazers are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country. List of new appointees and descriptions of their contributions Quote "Congratulations to the newest appointees to the Order of Canada. We proudly recognize each of these individuals whose dedication and passion for service not only enrich our communities but also help shape the fabric of our nation. Together, they inspire us to strive for greatness and to foster a future filled with hope and possibility." Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada Quick Facts: The Order of Canada is one of our country's highest honours. It recognizes people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to our nation. The motto of the Order, DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM, translates to "They desire a better country." Anyone can nominate a person for the Order of Canada. Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis and can be made on The Governor General made these appointments on April 17, 2025, on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada. A person officially becomes a Member of the Order of Canada on the day the instrument of appointment is sealed with the Seal of the Order of Canada and signed by the governor general. A Member or an Officer of the Order of Canada can be promoted to a higher level if they demonstrate further exceptional achievement. Nominations for a promotion can be considered a minimum of five years after the last appointment. Non-Canadians are eligible for honorary appointment to the Order if their contributions have brought benefit or honour to Canadians or to Canada. New Members of the Order will be invited to a ceremony at a later date to be invested and to receive their insignia. The dates of these ceremonies will be announced in due course. Stay connected: Follow GovernorGeneralCanada on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
CBC
04-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
A reprieve for snowbirds? Trump Administration sued over traveller registration requirement
Immigration advocates are suing the Trump Administration over its upcoming registration requirement for non-U.S. citizens staying longer than 29 days, offering a possible reprieve for Canadian snowbirds. The U.S.-based American Immigration Council and partner organizations launched the suit this week to try to quash the registration rule. They claim the administration failed to seek public input on an ill-conceived directive affecting millions of people. On Tuesday, the advocacy groups will ask the District Court for the District of Columbia to impose a preliminary injunction blocking the registration requirement before its April 11 rollout. "We feel strongly that this rule was issued in an improper and illegal way," said Michelle Lapointe, legal director at the American Immigration Council. "What they're rolling out is a system that is arbitrary, it's confusing, it doesn't make sense." In January, U.S. president Trump issued an executive order called "Protecting the American People Against Invasion." As of April 11, it requires certain foreign nationals staying 30 days or longer, including many Canadians crossing by land, to register online with the U.S. government. The registration form asks travellers for a lengthy list of personal details, such as one's U.S. address, and where one's parents were born. Non-Canadians will also have to submit fingerprints. The immigration advocacy groups join many Canadian snowbirds who have raised concerns since learning about the registration rule last month. "I feel as if we are being targeted as Canadians," said Rena Hans of Toronto, who owns a condo in Florida. "This is giving me kind of like, a little bit of a totalitarian vibe." Stephen Fine, president of the company Snowbird Advisor, which runs a resource website, says he has received hundreds of emails from snowbirds asking questions about the registration requirement. "There's a lot of anxiety and a lot of confusion." Fine says one main problem is that the rule's fine print can be hard to decipher. "The regulations came out in a hurry. There still isn't a lot of clarity on how you complete the process, who's required to complete the process." He says if the lawsuit manages to quash the regulations, it would be welcome news for snowbirds. $5,000 fine or imprisonment Part of the confusion stems from the fact that not all foreigners staying one month or longer must register. Canadians issued an electronic arrival/departure record when entering the U.S. will be exempt. According to immigration lawyers CBC News consulted, typically, international air passengers are issued such records, and land travellers are not. To find out their status, travellers need to input their travel information online via a U.S. immigration website upon arrival. Those required to register must carry proof of registration at all times or face fines of up to $5,000, or imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Lapointe says that because the rules are complex, people could unknowingly break them, and find themselves in trouble. "They could be picked up, arrested, detained, fined." WATCH | Canadian snowbirds 'insulted' by registration requirement: Canadian snowbirds 'insulted' Trump will enforce registration policy 23 days ago Duration 1:53 Snowbirds say they are insulted that the Trump administration will begin enforcing an existing law for Canadians that requires anyone crossing a land border who is staying more than 30 days to register with U.S. immigration authorities. Snowbirds David and Dianne Fine (no relation to Stephen Fine) say they plan to return home to Hepworth, Ont., before the April 11 deadline to avoid any problems. The couple, who are wintering at an RV park in Brownsville, Texas, completed the online registration form in late March. However, they have yet to receive official proof of their registration that they can print and show if required. "If we don't have the right documentation and they happen to catch us before April 11, I guess it means that we go to jail, or face a $5,000 fine, or both," said Fine, offering a worst-case scenario. U.S. immigration lawyer Rosanna Berardi told CBC News she doesn't believe Canadians will face such repercussions. However, Fine says, following recent news reports of heightened immigration scrutiny under the Trump administration, he's not taking any chances. "[From] what I'm seeing going on in the States the last few months, we don't know if there'd be leniency," he said. "That's what we're a little worried about." CBC News reached out to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of Homeland Security to clarify if, come April 11, the paperwork the Fine's currently have — an email stating the U.S. government has received their completed registration — is acceptable. Neither responded to that question, or to other questions regarding clarification of the registration rules. They also did not comment directly on the lawsuit. Instead, both emailed the same one-paragraph reply that re-stated the new rule, and ended by stating that the registration requirement "aligns with the Trump Administration's ongoing efforts to enhance the safety and security of the United States." Some snowbirds not sure they'll return to U.S. The lawsuit specifically references Canadian snowbirds, suggesting if the requirement deters them from wintering in the U.S., it could cause financial harm to Americans. "They're a boon to many communities, particularly in places like Florida," said Lapointe of the Immigration Council. "This is an issue that the government should have looked at." The Fines haven't made up their minds if they'll return to the U.S. next winter, citing the registration requirement and related issues, such as Trump's trade war. They hope the lawsuit is successful so that if they do return, they'll have one less thing to worry about.
