OINP applicants challenge Ontario over rejected immigration applications

About 300 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) applicants took their case to the Divisional Court on July 9, seeking a judicial review of the province's decision to reject or return roughly 2,600 applications in late 2025.

The applicants argue that while the province cited concerns about fraudulent activity and systemic misrepresentation, many were never shown specific evidence tied to their individual files. "For the first time since our applications were returned, somebody has actually paid attention to our voices," said Shobitjeet Singh, one of the applicants standing outside Osgoode Hall.

The applicants have been through every available channel — the Legislature, the OINP office, freedom-of-information requests, and even the Human Rights Tribunal — before turning to the courts. Their lawyers argue Ontario has the tools to investigate case by case but instead chose to issue blanket rejections affecting thousands at once.

"In Canada, we have principles of natural justice and procedural fairness," said Andres Pelemur, counsel for the applicants.

The controversy began in November 2025 when affected workers organized demonstrations outside Queen's Park and the OINP office in Toronto, demanding transparency and explanation. Many have spent years studying and working in Ontario before their applications were caught in the rejection wave. Immigration expert Kanwar Sierah said the case could set a precedent on whether governments can make major policy changes affecting applicants already in the system and what obligations they hold to those applicants.