No NAFTA? No Problem – For Temporary Business Travel, That Is

Canada's most important trading relationship is – in all likelihood – about to change: the current U.S. administration has put the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) at risk. One of NAFTA's key benefits is its role in facilitating cross-border mobility between Canada and the U.S. But while NAFTA remains vital to immigration, the demise or drastic redrafting of NAFTA does not necessarily mean the end of fast and stress-free business travel from the U.S. to Canada.

"Business Visitors". Canada's "business visitor" visa was designed to grant people from the U.S. (and elsewhere) entry to Canada without the usual requirement for a work permit. This work permit exemption is valuable because obtaining one can be a complex process: there is a fee, and unless the individual meets one of the narrow exemptions for a labour market impact assessment (LMIA), it's very difficult to get a work permit without one. A person coming to Canada for business may