
Girl Dad x2. Lawyer + Researcher. Founder @HeronLFMC; (co) AIMICI. J.D., UOttawa; LLM, UBC. Immigration, refugee, citizenship, admin law. Tech + complex cases.
Unceded MSTQ, Burnaby, Canada
Joined December 2010
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Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
On October 5, our Principal Lawyer, @TheWillTruth, spoke at the 2026 CILA Conference in Toronto on the Advocacy Stream panel Inadmissibility Masterclass: Security Issues, Human Rights Violations, and Misrepresentations.
The panel examined inadmissibility under sections 34, 35 and 40, recent Federal Court developments, and the growing role of automation and AI in IRCC security screening. Will joined Justice Andrew J. Brouwer, Chris Ezrin and Wesley Wark, with Adrienne Smith moderating.
Photo credit to Laura Schemitsch.
#CanadianImmigration #ImmigrationLaw #Inadmissibility #CILA2026 #FederalCourt #AIinImmigration
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
Paul Cotter on the #Canucks:
"The idea of things in our room vs. probably the rest of the world is a lot different...better to be an underdog than middle of the pack...this is a special group, very, very ego-less which is so rare...we mesh well."
19+
One of my favourite childhood songs.
That being said, terrible wording filled with grey and discretion.
A Temporary Resident Permit allows someone who is inadmissible to Canada or does not meet the requirements of Canadian immigration legislation to enter or remain in Canada where there is a compelling need.
In August, IRCC updated its TRP guidance to define a “compelling need” as one that is “overwhelming in a powerfully irresistible way.”
We ran the phrase through CanLII and couldn’t find this standard in the jurisprudence. It is also not entirely clear what it means.
If the IRCC director who wrote this was listening to Jessica Simpson at the time, it could be that the need for a TRP must be up close and personal, now inescapable, such that the officer can hardly breathe.
The need for a TRP must also, possibly, be more than just physical and deeper than spiritual.
canada.ca/en/immigration-ref…
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
We are pleased to confirm the signing of Promise David from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on a season-long loan. 🇨🇦
The deal includes an obligation to buy should certain criteria be met. 🤝
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
Borderlines Podcast #225 - How "sustainable" is IRCC's lauded "return to sustainable immigration levels"?
Canada says it is returning immigration to “sustainable levels.” But what does sustainability actually mean? And sustainable for whom?
Deanna Okun-Nachoff is joined by immigration lawyer @TheWillTruth, founder of Heron Law Offices, to discuss how artificial intelligence, automated triage and rapidly changing policies are reshaping Canadian immigration decision-making.
They examine:
• Whether AI is merely assisting immigration officers or substantively influencing decisions
• The loss of transparency and accountability in automated processing
• The Supreme Court of Canada’s Democracy Watch decision and the continuing role of judicial review
• Whether civil-society organizations could bring broader challenges to immigration policies and automated systems
• The expansion of national-security screening and its disproportionate impact on Chinese, Iranian, Russian and other applicants
• How allegations of espionage can reinforce racial profiling and harmful public narratives
• Why immigration lawyers, decision-makers and applicants are increasingly overwhelmed by an unpredictable system
The episode concludes with an audience question: Will the allegation that a Canadian Armed Forces member spied for a foreign entity at NATO lead to even stricter security screening for applicants from China? Deanna and Will discuss the danger of drawing sweeping conclusions from an individual allegation, the importance of due process, and the need to distinguish legitimate security concerns from racial stereotyping.
youtube.com/live/uRPrWvWKMQY
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
🎉 Our very own Will Tao & Laura Schemitsch are taking Heron Law Offices on the road! Join us in-person for two Immigration Talks in Nanaimo & Campbell River on Aug 28. Purchase Tickets Now!
🔹 Nanaimo Employers Roundtable: 11:30 AM–1 PM, Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. LMIA options, TFWP compliance & Q&A. Max 10 spots!
🔹 Immigration & Citizenship Update 2026: 3:30–5 PM, Campbell River Museum. Levels Plan, PR/TR pathways, Bill C-3 & Q&A. Max 20 spots!
Space is limited. Don't miss your chance to connect with our team face-to-face!
Purchase tickets by emailing [email protected] 📩
@TheWillTruth
#HeronLawOffices #CanadianImmigration #VancouverIsland
heronlaw.ca/heron-law-office…
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced Canada's largest ever investment in sports: $1 billion "to improve access to sport, to upgrade stadiums, fields, and local parks, and to provide talent with resources to get from playground to podium."
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
“My mom could not be there for a visa issue.”
I don’t know if I should get started on this one… shades of when I used to work at LR and Steve uncovered the racist guide. #cdnimm
Federal Court sets aside a spousal sponsorship refusal because, among other concerns, the officer appeared to treat the fact that all of the guests who attended the couple's wedding in Canada were Asian as a negative factor in assessing the genuineness of the relationship.
decisions.fct-cf.ca/fc-cf/de…
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has signed a shoe endorsement contract with Chinese company Li-Ning -- a landmark 10-year deal, sources tell ESPN. Li-Ning extends his Curry Brand venture globally and encompasses basketball products, athleisure, the ability for Curry to sign athletes under his brand, and a full golf line.
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
It’s been 109 days since our world came to a sudden stop.
Since then, there have been countless surgeries, endless sleepless nights, and a long road of small steps forward mixed with a few steps back. No one was prepared for that tragic day. The panic, the confusion, and the terrifying uncertainty about our little girl’s future.
Today, I want to say how incredibly proud I am of you, my Maya Bear. Your fire and strength are what keep me going every single day. You are an inspiration to so many, but you’re my hero most of all.
People often tell Cia and I how strong we seem and how well we’re holding it together. The truth is, I’m still broken, depressed, and exhausted. There are days when a simple memory of you pops up on my phone and the tears stream down my face. But when I see how strong and resilient you are, I know I have to be strong for you too.
We’re making slow but steady progress. Some days are better than others, but we’re moving forward together. We’ve been enjoying walks outside, taking in the fresh air and watching the animals scurrying around. In therapy, you’ve been working hard! standing with support, engaging your core more, holding your head up a little longer, and even sitting on the edge of the bed with minimal help. You’ve also started showing signs of swallowing liquids again (orange Gatorade is still your favorite, of course). Your hockey tournament drink of choice!
We’re seeing more engagement when we ask you to do things too. It’s a long road ahead, but we’re ready for the journey however long it takes.
I love you so much, my Maya Bear ❤️. Daddy’s right here with you.
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
We are pleased to share that the B.C. Ministry has designated this webinar by @TheWillTruth as mandatory training for all staff funded through the BC Newcomer Service Program.
This recognition reflects the ongoing relevance of this resource to frontline settlement work and the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that funded staff have a clear, consistent understanding of the boundaries governing immigration-related service delivery.
#HeronLawOffices #CanadianImmigration
amssa.org/resource/irpa-sect…
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
We are proud to share that @TheWillTruth , Principal Lawyer and Founder of Heron Law Offices, has been selected as one of 250 participants in the 2026 Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference (GGCLC), one of Canada’s most prestigious and longstanding leadership development programs.
Running from May 22 to June 5, 2026, this year’s theme is Leading Canada’s Sustainable Prosperity, a call to leaders who are ready to think big about economic growth, social inclusion, and Canada’s role in an uncertain world.
At Heron Law Offices, we believe Canada’s prosperity is inseparable from its immigration system. The decisions made by leaders in business, government, and civil society directly shape the conditions in which newcomers build their lives and those decisions are better when they are informed by people who work with migrant communities every day.
We believe Will’s presence in that room matters, and we are glad the GGCLC brings together exactly this kind of cross-sector dialogue.
#2026GGCLC #GGCLC #LeadershipCanada #HeronLawOffices
rhf-frh.ca/2026-ggclc-partic…
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
Justice Tsimberis accepts the DoJ request to strike the Applicants Reply as it appeared to be AI generated and contained hallucinated case law. The Applicant was self represented but had a duty to 'self educate' and her explanation was shall we say less than sufficient in the eyes of the Court.
Sinkova v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 650 (CanLII), <canlii.ca/t/kl387>
Wei William (Will) Tao|陶维 retweeted
Temporary public policy to exempt unaccompanied minors, in Canada, from having their claim for refugee protection determined ineligible to be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada under the new ineligibilities canada.ca/en/immigration-ref…
Shoutout @Arsenal. Grew up on Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Nicholas Anelka, Patrick Viera. Been a minute since following but always good to see your original team win!






















