Canada Plans to Tighten Temporary Immigration Rules.
TORONTO, Aug 1 (Reuters) – Canada’s government is set to announce measures aimed at restricting temporary immigration, with no immediate plans for a broad program to provide status to undocumented residents, according to Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Miller stated, “The era of uncapped programs to come into this country is quickly coming to an end. This is a big shift. You can’t just slam on the brakes and expect it to stop immediately.”
Historically, Canada has welcomed newcomers, with the current Liberal government overseeing a significant increase in new residents, particularly temporary ones. This rise came as many employers struggled to fill positions after the pandemic.
However, over the past year, public sentiment has shifted. Immigrants are now being blamed for worsening housing and affordability issues in the country. Critics argue that the federal government has allowed too many people to enter.
A recent Leger poll revealed that 60% of respondents believe there are too many immigrants in Canada. Miller acknowledged this sentiment, saying, “I’m not naive enough to think Canada is immune to the waves of anti-immigrant sentiment. Canadians want a system that is not out of control.”
He emphasized that Canadians desire an immigration system that makes sense while retaining the welcoming aspects the country is known for. Miller predicted that immigration will be a significant issue in the next election, expected in late 2025.
In its recent monetary policy report, the Bank of Canada expressed skepticism about the government’s ability to achieve its temporary residents goal. As of April, non-permanent residents constituted 6.8% of the country’s population, a number expected to rise in the near future.
While Miller agreed that meeting this goal is challenging, he deemed it a “reasonable” objective given the upcoming measures the government plans to announce over the following weeks. Though he did not provide specific details, he indicated that changes to post-graduate work permits and enforcement might be part of these measures.
When asked if the government had made mistakes by allowing rapid growth in temporary residents, Miller responded, “Every government makes mistakes. I think we are all human.” He noted that coming out of COVID, the country faced significant labor shortages.
Record Levels of Refugee Claims
Additionally, Canada is experiencing a surge in refugee claims, with over 18,000 recorded in June, according to the Immigration and Refugee Board. This increase persists despite government efforts to deter asylum-seekers by closing the land border under a contentious agreement with the United States and imposing new visa requirements for Mexican nationals.
Although Canada cannot control the number of refugee claims, it can make it more difficult for asylum-seekers to enter the country. Miller stated that the government may introduce stricter criteria for temporary resident visas to limit the arrival of asylum-seekers.
The government had previously indicated plans for a regularization program to grant status to undocumented residents. However, Miller confirmed that this is not being considered before the upcoming election, although sector-specific programs may still be a possibility.