World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. The weekly roundup includes research, stories, and events of interest to the Canadian immigration and settlement community. This content has been created by WES and is reproduced here with their permission, in partnership.
Canada might struggle to rein in surge of temporary residents, Bank of Canada projects (CBC)
The Bank of Canada projects that the federal government may not meet its goal to reduce the share of temporary residents in Canada from 6.2 percent to 5 percent by 2027. Immigration Minister Marc Miller had announced this target in March, but the bank's report indicates that the non-permanent residents' (NPRs) share has grown to 6.8 percent and is expected to rise further. The report highlights considerable uncertainty around the temporary resident program and anticipates that policy adjustments will be needed. Foreign workers in Canada face increasing exploitation and financial abuse, including being charged for fake job offers, as immigration policies tighten and competition for permanent residency intensifies. The central bank's report comes amidst efforts to manage the rise in temporary residents, including a proposed cap on international student admissions. Despite these efforts, data shows an increase in student permits, with 216,620 approved in the first five months of 2024 compared to 200,505 in the same period in 2023. The government plans to address the influx of temporary residents in its upcoming immigration levels plan, which will include consultations with provincial and territorial counterparts. The Bank of Canada's findings underscore the challenges of achieving the 5 percent target, noting that more details on program changes are expected later this year. The government continues to explore measures to manage temporary resident numbers while balancing the economic needs and contributions of these residents to Canada's workforce.
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Refugee Success in Canada’s Labour Market: Labour Market Information Needs and Gaps (LMIC)
The Labour Market Information Council (LMIC) conducted a study on Afghan refugees in Canada, revealing significant barriers to accessing labour market information (LMI). Interviews with 25 Afghan refugees who arrived in 2021 highlighted several key issues. Refugees received no LMI before arriving and only basic settlement information upon arrival, which often guided them into survival jobs rather than roles matching their skills. The complex credential recognition system and inaccessible language training programs further hinders their employment prospects. The Afghan refugees who participated in the study recommended specific LMI sessions on arrival, peer-to-peer information sharing programs, direct feedback mechanisms for the credential recognition process, and more flexible language training options. The report emphasizes the need for timely, relevant, and detailed LMI to aid refugees' integration into the Canadian labour market. Enhanced and better-coordinated support services could significantly improve their employment outcomes and leverage their skills and experiences more effectively.
Staff warned immigration minister about setting 'significant precedent' with Ukraine visa program (CBC)
Canada's humanitarian programs have come under increased scrutiny due to IRCC's perceived disparate responses among migrant groups. A memo from Canada's immigration department highlights several concerns regarding Canada's handling of Afghan resettlement programming and the temporary program for Ukrainians. A group of Afghan Canadians has proposed launching a class-action lawsuit against the federal government, alleging discriminatory treatment against Afghan refugees by granting preference to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. In addition to critiques of potential discrimination, the documents also warned that the design of the program that granted Ukrainians temporary status as opposed to permanent residency could place Ukrainians at a disadvantage. Advocates argue that Ukrainians have limited access to settlement supports since they are not receiving equivalent refugee status under the law. However, IRCC argues that the two programs cannot be compared, as Ukrainians would likely return home, while Afghan nationals are more likely to require long-term residency in Canada. Ultimately, experts caution that Canada risks setting an unfortunate precedent that may result in similar responses to future emergencies.
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