Immigration Minister Marc Miller has stated that a federal program to allow undocumented migrants to stay in Canada is not imminent. Cabinet discussions are ongoing, with some ministers strongly opposing the plan.
The proposal, which includes permitting rejected asylum seekers and former international students with expired permits to apply for residency, was presented to cabinet before the summer recess. However, no decision has been made yet, and it could take months before any program is introduced, Miller noted.
Miller emphasized the lack of consensus within the government, citing “views that I respect, people that care about these issues that are radically opposed and diametrically opposed.” The proposed program would allow migrants without documents, including those with Canadian children, to apply for permanent residence.
In 2021, the Prime Minister tasked then-immigration minister Sean Fraser with exploring ways to regularize the status of undocumented workers contributing to Canadian communities. A cabinet decision was expected this spring, but Miller now indicates the program won’t be rolled out soon due to divided public opinion.
Miller has frozen the immigration target at 500,000 for 2026 and introduced a cap on international students. He estimates there are between 300,000 and 600,000 undocumented people in Canada, although the exact number is unknown.
Lisa Lalande, CEO of the Century Initiative, highlighted the challenges posed by the uncertain number of undocumented workers for planning and economic integration.
Miller clarified that the program would not cover all undocumented people but argued that providing a path to permanent residence for those living in Canada for years is fair and economically beneficial. He believes it would align undocumented parents with their Canadian-born children.
Public opinion on the issue is split, with some misconceptions about the proposal equating it to “queue-jumping.” Miller suggests that educating the public could increase support for regularization.
Other countries, like Ireland and the U.S., have introduced similar programs. In Ireland, a 2022 program allowed people who had lived there for four years to apply for residency. Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that undocumented spouses of American citizens can apply for permanent residency without leaving the country.
Support for a broad regularization program in Canada comes from over 20 labor organizations, including the Canadian Labour Congress, migrant groups, churches, and the New Democratic Party. Syed Hussan of the Migrant Rights Network noted that undocumented individuals cannot access basic financial services and would significantly boost the economy if granted legal status.
Tourism Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada, a former refugee, stated that undocumented people are living “in the shadows” and that integrating them makes economic sense, allowing them to contribute fully to the system.