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.
The Impact of Justin Trudeau’s Departure on Canada’s Future Immigration Policies (Immigration News)
By championing a mandate of “inclusive, diverse, and open” immigration policy, for many, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau helped maintain Canada’s position as a leader in welcoming newcomers. In earlier stages of Trudeau’s leadership, Canadian immigration measures evolved to meet the needs of the economy while prioritizing humanitarian values, with programs like Express Entry, family reunification, and other resettlement pathways. However, over time, significant challenges have shaped a distinctive socio-economic and political landscape, marked by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, an aging population, strained social resources, and heightened public skepticism toward higher immigration levels in light of these concerns. Prior to his intention to resign, the Prime Minister announced reduction in immigration levels, to ease domestic pressures, a move that many advocates argue was “too little, too late” and failed to address systemic concerns – leaving Canada’s immigration policy at a crossroads.
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Thousands of caregivers’ status at risk as immigration programs stall (Globe & Mail)
Thousands of internationally trained caregivers are at risk of losing status or being deported, as delays limit new immigration pathways to permanent residency. The federal government announced plans to launch new pilots to support caregivers from overseas, to replace the previous Home Child Care Provider and the Home Support Worker pilot programs that were set to end in June 2024. Despite these programs ending, the new programs have yet to be implemented. According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the system continues to navigate backlogs in permanent residency application processing through the old programming, and IRCC plans to eliminate these before opening the new pilots. A December statement notes that eligibility criteria and steps to apply would be made available in the “coming months”. This leaves many caregivers in limbo and at risk of becoming undocumented. Migrant worker advocates are calling on the government to repair its relationship with caregivers from abroad, highlighting that they are often subjected to unfair wait times and precarious employment.
2 in 5 newcomers would consider leaving Canada (Radio Canada)
Nearly 80 percent of newcomers to Canada feel that too many immigrants are welcomed without proper planning and support, according to a Pollara Insights survey. While grateful to be in Canada, many newcomers say there are not enough commensurate employment opportunities or services that enable their successful integration. This includes a lack of adequate housing, infrastructure, and jobs. Fourteen percent of newcomers to the country are unemployed, double the rate of the national average, and a quarter of respondents cite that their previous work experience was either not acknowledged or recognized in their job search. Despite frustrations with the immigration system, many newcomers cite overall satisfaction with their quality of life, access to quality education, and a good work-life balance. Areas for improvement, according to respondents, include a high cost of living and a strained health care system.
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The Truth About Asylum in Canada (Policy Options)
The Director of the Centre for Refugee Studies at York University, Yvonne Su, writes that shifting public opinion on immigration may lead to reduced support for asylum seekers, while misinformation about immigration policies and procedures could result in mistreatment and an increase in anti-refugee rhetoric. To maintain a robust and equitable system, she encourages policymakers to focus on surfacing and implementing effective solutions that solve critical challenges without stigmatizing these populations. Strategies put forward to strengthen Canada’s asylum system include:
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