Ulysses Group: Hi Benoit! You’ve been involved in Canadian business immigration since November 1995, that’s 30 years this month!
Benoit Desjardins: That’s right, time truly flies!
Ulysses Group: Would you say immigrating to Canada was easier back then than it is today?
Desjardins: When it comes to Canadian immigration, I’ve always said: “It’s more difficult than yesterday, but easier than tomorrow.”
Ulysses Group: Why is that?
Desjardins: Canada is relatively small population-wise, which puts pressure on housing, healthcare, infrastructure, and services. When society feels growth is too rapid, immigration is usually the first area to face restrictions. And right now, that pressure is even higher than ever.
Ulysses Group: Despite that, are you optimistic about the future of Canadian immigration?
Desjardins: Absolutely. We’re currently navigating turbulence, particularly with Bill C-12, which could suspend some immigration programs. But in my 30 years of practice, we’ve always found practical solutions, keeping doors open for clients and enabling them to achieve their immigration goals.
Ulysses Group: Where have you spent these 30 years professionally?Desjardins: My journey began in Hong Kong. A short two-week visit turned into five years (!), during which I represented local entrepreneurs and, later, Chinese businesspeople seeking to immigrate to Canada through the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program. After Hong Kong, I moved to the Middle East, living in Dubai from 2006 to 2010, while making frequent trips back to Montreal, where I was born and where my three children grew up. Since 2010, our office has been based in Montreal. Thanks to modern technology, Zoom, Internet, and remote collaboration tools, we now serve clients from over fifty (50) countries, all from our Montreal headquarters.
Ulysses Group: What options are currently available for entrepreneurs wishing to immigrate to Canada with their families?
Desjardins: Desjardins: The most promising programs today are the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), especially those in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. These programs allow entrepreneurs to launch their business under a work permit, which is typically obtained within approximately 15 months. After 12 months of operation, we submit their permanent residence application to federal authorities.While these provinces are smaller and quieter than Toronto or Vancouver, they offer exceptional quality of life — proximity to the ocean, excellent schools and healthcare structure, and a welcoming environment for raising a family. For a businessperson, running a company in these provinces for 12 months is both professionally rewarding and personally enriching.Ulysses Group: And after that initial 12-month period?
Desjardins: That’s when entrepreneurs can get their "Nomination" from the Province (3 months) before submitting their Permanent Residency (PR) application to the Federal level, which currently takes about 15 months to process. The business must continue to operate during this period. So, from the entrepreneur’s initial arrival to receiving permanent residence, the process typically spans 45 months.
Ulysses Group: Are there other options for business immigration?
Desjardins: Yes. Some alternatives include:
i) The C-11 Business Work Permit: Allows entrepreneurs to establish a business anywhere in Canada, often via a franchise, which provides franchisee support and a pre-structured business plan. Typical investment is around CAD$100,000.
These are temporary permits, generally valid for two years, renewable for up to 5–7 years, but do not automatically lead to permanent residence.
Ulysses Group: What about the flagship program of recent years?Desjardins: That would be the Startup Visa Program, which has been the key program for the past eight years. Its main advantage is that it provides direct permanent residence — entrepreneurs do not need to enter Canada before approval. The main challenge today is processing times, currently estimated at around 10 years. However, we are optimistic that delays will decrease in the future as the federal government clears the current backlog. For our clients, we work with Angel investors under Priority Processing, who invest CAD$75,000 per applicant. The Startup Visa remains an option for international entrepreneurs.
