Canada recently announced a series of stringent immigration measures in response to mounting public sentiment against high levels of immigration. The recent changes highlight the evolving political landscape ahead of the upcoming federal election. According to data, Canada has seen a significant increase in the ratio of refused visitor visas to approved ones in recent months, a trend not seen since the height of the pandemic. This comes as the country grapples with a cost of living crisis, influencing public opinion on immigration.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that his ministry would reassess the number of applicants for permanent residency, indicating a potential reduction in acceptance rates. “Now it’s time to take a look at them and put real options on the table for the prime minister and for other cabinet ministers to look at,” Miller told CTV News. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, echoed these sentiments, suggesting a possible cutback on the temporary foreign workers program following a surge in applications.
This shift in policy appears to be informal rather than a formal legislative change. In July alone, Canada refused entry to nearly 6,000 foreign travelers, including students, workers, and tourists – the highest since at least January 2019. This reflects a broader shift in public perception, with polling showing an increase in anti-immigration sentiment as economic pressures rise.
Trudeau’s government has also been criticized for the expansion of the temporary foreign workers program, which was recently condemned by a UN special rapporteur for being a “breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery.” The government is now placing restrictions on hiring low-wage temporary foreign workers in sectors with high unemployment rates, excluding agriculture and food processing, which are considered essential for food security.
Despite these measures, Trudeau and Miller defend the need for high immigration levels as a critical part of Canada’s economic growth strategy. However, they acknowledge that the current volume of immigrants, combined with insufficient infrastructure investment, has led to increased public concern. As Canada prepares for a federal election, immigration remains a contentious issue, with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre criticizing the Liberal government’s approach as “radical and out of control.”
With a plan to freeze permanent resident targets over the next three years, the government aims to bring in 485,000 permanent residents in 2024 and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026. These numbers represent a significant increase from the 296,000 permanent residents welcomed in 2016, highlighting the growing complexity of Canada’s immigration landscape.
