Rephonic
Artwork for Borderlines
Canada
Canadian Immigration
Canadian Immigration Law
Immigration Law
Canadian Immigration Policy
IRCC
Express Entry
Immigration Policy
Asylum Claims
Bill C-2
International Students
Permanent Residency
Judicial Review
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Bill C-12
Housing Market
Afghanistan
Bill C-3
Immigration
Canadian Bar Association

A podcast for the discussion of Canadian immigration law and policy, although we often delve into other topics. Each episode features 2-3 lawyers, academics, politicians, and stakeholders discussing current migration issues.

Hosted by Steven Meurrens and Deanna Okun-Nachoff, two immigration lawyers in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes237Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Borderlines

Latest Episodes

We discuss three recent developments:

IRCC’s abrupt addition and removal of new requirements for C20 reciprocal-employment work permits;

CBSA officers checking the immigration status of participants at a Calgary protest, with 12 people identified a... more

Can Parliament prevent courts from reviewing the decisions of administrative tribunals?

In this episode, we discuss the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision in Democracy Watch v. Canada (Attorney General), 2026 SCC 28. The case arose after De... more

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 Will Tao, founder of Heron Law Offices, to discuss how artific... more

What happens when IRCC changes the rules after someone has already made major life decisions? Or even submitted their application?

We start with recent Post-Graduation Work Permit refusals involving graduates of non-credit programs. Students enrolle... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Paul Daly
Administrative law lawyer and professor
University of Ottawa Faculty of Law
Episode: #226 - Can Parliament Block Judicial Review? With Paul Daly and Sujit Choudhry
Josh Fox
Filmmaker and documentary filmmaker known forGasland and The Welcome Table project
Episode: #223 - Climate Refugees and The Welcome Table
Kamaljit Lehal
Immigration lawyer specializing in gender-based violence
Immigration advocacy, gender-based violence practice
Episode: #218 - Supreme Court Recognizes Intimate Partner Violence Tort
Prasanna Balasundaram
Staff Lawyer at Downtown Legal Services, University of Toronto
Downtown Legal Services, University of Toronto
Episode: #213 - Race, Detention, and Transparency in Canada's Immigration System
Efrat Arbel
Professor, University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
Episode: #213 - Race, Detention, and Transparency in Canada's Immigration System
Nana Yanful
Criminal, defense and human rights lawyer
Independent/Practice in Toronto
Episode: #213 - Race, Detention, and Transparency in Canada's Immigration System
Hannah Cross
Co-author of the report (on maternity leave)
Unknown (co-author)
Episode: #213 - Race, Detention, and Transparency in Canada's Immigration System
Phil Gurski
Retired CSIS analyst, co-author of transnational repression report
Montreal Institute for Global Security (MIGS)
Episode: #211 - Security Screening for Transnational Repression, with Retired CSIS Analyst Phil Gurski
Lisa Middlemiss
Immigration lawyer; co-author of book on Canadian citizenship
Independent practitioner
Episode: #208 - Proving Canadian Ancestry, with Amandeep Hayer and Lisa Middlemiss

Hosts

Steven Meurrens
Host of Borderlines podcast; immigration lawyer based in Vancouver
Deanna Okun-Nachoff
Co-host of Borderlines; immigration lawyer based in Vancouver

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 95 ratings
  • Trying to find out who did this

    Whiny immigration lawyers filing hundreds of applications start podcast to complain about IRCC delays…basically the Tim Robinson hot dog sketch of podcasts sprinkled with paranoid conspiracy theories. Episode 166 also sprinkles in some light antisemitism. Apparently we should blame the Jews for the government labelling the IRCG as a terrorist organization. Also apparently the “expert” guests have never heard of Ministerial Relief.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Alfie is a girl
    Canadaa year ago
  • Trying to find out who did this

    Whiny immigration lawyers filing hundreds of applications start podcast to complain about IRCC delays…basically the Tim Robinson hot dog sketch of podcasts sprinkled with paranoid conspiracy theories.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Alfie is a girl
    Canadaa year ago
  • Informative and Genuine

    As a policy student specializing in immigration, this show gives me a really easy and engaging way of learning and keeping up with how the field is evolving. It gives me so many practical and theoretical considerations to factor into my work, and helps my work stay informed with on-the-ground perspectives.

    I also appreciate the empathy and humanity this show maintains while discussing topics, as opposed to all the content choosing to just profit off of the outrage around migration. Thank you f... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alex92577
    Canada2 years ago
  • Intro

    Intro/outro music is based.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Canadian Flagpoler
    Canada2 years ago
  • Intros

    I love the content but missed having speakers introduced at the start of the discussion.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    blbaj
    Canada3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners critique overemphasis on policy reforms and note matters of controversy in guest selections.
Positive feedback highlights thoughtful, nuanced analysis and credible guests.
A few reviews mention intro/outro and speaker introductions could be clearer.
Listeners frequently praise accessibility and practical insights for immigration practice.

Top News Podcasts

The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The MeidasTouch PodcastMeidasTouch Network
Global News Podcast
Global News PodcastBBC World Service
The Decibel
The DecibelThe Globe and Mail
The Headlines
The HeadlinesThe New York Times
Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaPod Save America

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#226 - Can Parliament Block Judicial Review? With Paul Daly and Sujit Choudhry
Q: Why is the separation of powers important in Canada, and how does this ruling affect that balance?
The ruling reinforces a strong separation of powers by confirming that the judiciary has a constitutional role in supervising and, when necessary, checking executive actions; it emphasizes that Parliament cannot insulate itself from judicial scrutiny via privative clauses or other devices, thereby preserving the court's ability to guard against arbitrary governmental power.
#226 - Can Parliament Block Judicial Review? With Paul Daly and Sujit Choudhry
Q: What is an administrative tribunal and why should we care if a judge has the ability to review their decisions?
Administrative decisions arise wherever a statute grants authority to officials, regulators, or tribunals, and judicial review acts as a backstop to prevent arbitrariness by ensuring procedural fairness and rationality; the right to review is tied to maintaining the rule of law and protecting rights in Canada's constitutional framework.
#223 - Climate Refugees and The Welcome Table
Q: How did you decide and identify where you were going to go for the documentary?
Josh Fox explains that his investigative instinct guides him to diverse locations (California, Nigeria, Peru, Brazil, Kenya) to contrast experiences of climate impact and resilience, and that his prior films helped shape a method that blends journalism with emotional storytelling to engage audiences in global issues.
#220 - Inside IRCC: Answers to Representatives’ Emails #2
Q: Foreign work inside Canada: do you get Express Entry points?
IRCC guidance indicates that remote work may be eligible for some transferability points, but Express Entry itself does not clearly capture remote work; applicants should detail the work location and provide explanations, and some refusals on concurrent work have been addressed in judicial reviews, with potential to challenge.
#220 - Inside IRCC: Answers to Representatives’ Emails #2
Q: What is the procedure if a client appoints a representative and the client dies during processing?
IRCC can allow the named representative to continue handling the case; in cases involving children, a legal guardian may be appointed to carry on the file, and the file may stay active through completion.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Borderlines

What is Borderlines about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show offers expert, policy-focused discussions on Canadian immigration law and related governance, featuring 2–3 lawyers, academics, and policymakers per episode. Topics span landmark court decisions, security screening, Express Entry reforms, enforcement practices, and legislative bills like Bill C-12, with practical implications for clients, practitioners, and advocates. The format tends to combine deep legal analysis with real-world case examples, aiming to illuminate how policy changes shape immigration outcomes, rights, and access. A notable strength is the blend of legal rigor with accessible commentary, often bringing in guest experts to unpack complex issues. Potential listeners who want concrete takeaways for practice, policy,... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Borderlines?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Borderlines. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Borderlines and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Borderlines get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Borderlines, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Borderlines?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Borderlines, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Borderlines have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Borderlines has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Borderlines?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Borderlines:

1. Canadian Immigration Podcast
2. The Debaters
3. Front Burner
4. The Decibel
5. Ideas

How many episodes of Borderlines are there?

Borderlines launched 10 years ago and published 237 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Borderlines?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Borderlines?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Borderlines from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Borderlines?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Borderlines. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Borderlines?

Recent guests on Borderlines include:

1. Paul Daly
2. Josh Fox
3. Kamaljit Lehal
4. Prasanna Balasundaram
5. Efrat Arbel
6. Nana Yanful
7. Hannah Cross
8. Phil Gurski

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days