The Future of Immigration in Canada 2024

Summary

In the latest episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, hosts Mark Hy and Alicia Bachman discuss significant changes in Canada's immigration landscape, particularly focusing on temporary residence. They highlight Minister Miller's recent speech, which outlines a shift in policy affecting international students, temporary foreign workers, and asylum seekers. The hosts delve into the breakdown of temporary resident numbers, noting that international students make up 42%, while the temporary foreign worker program constitutes a surprising 9%. They discuss potential reductions in international student numbers, increased scrutiny on LMIA applications, and the likelihood of further restrictions on spousal open work permits. The podcast also touches on the government's intention to prioritize economic reasons for temporary residence and the possible impact on PNP streams linked to education. Despite the challenges, a silver lining is the promise of more domestic draws for those already in Canada, aiming to transition to permanent residency. Practical advice is offered for those in Canada to maximize their language scores and secure LMIA-backed work permits, emphasizing the importance of acting promptly due to increased competition and processing times.

Takeaways

• 📉 The Canadian government is planning to reduce the number of temporary residents, particularly focusing on international students and work permits, aiming to decrease the temporary resident numbers from 6.2% to 5%.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Minister Miller's recent speech indicates a shift in immigration policy, potentially affecting the future of immigration in Canada, including changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and International Mobility Program.
• 📉 International students make up 42% of temporary residents in Canada, with significant changes expected, including caps on study permits and restrictions on post-graduation work permits for certain programs.
• 🚫 Spouses of students and workers may face new limitations, as there is speculation that open spousal work permits may be restricted to those linked with high-skilled workers.
• 🧐 The government is emphasizing economic rationale for temporary residency, suggesting that future policies will tie temporary residents more closely to labor market needs.
• 🇺🇦 Concerning Ukrainian refugees, the government is expected to support those who have already arrived in Canada but may reconsider further large-scale programs until the situation in Ukraine is resolved.
• 🤔 There is a possibility of more domestic draws for Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) to facilitate the transition of temporary residents to permanent residency.
• 🛂 LMIA validity periods have been reduced from 18 months to 6 months, indicating tighter controls on the recruitment and hiring of foreign workers.
• ⏱️ Processing times for LMIA applications are lengthening, which may affect the self-selection of foreign nationals choosing between job offers in Canada and other countries.
• 🏫 The Minister has expressed concerns about the quality of education provided to international students and has hinted at further restrictions on schools that do not adhere to higher standards.
• 📚 For those in Canada, maximizing language test scores and acquiring Canadian work experience are crucial for improving their competitiveness for permanent residency.

Q & A

What is the current focus of the Canadian immigration practice?

The current focus is on the various announcements made by Minister Miller, which are expected to significantly impact immigration to Canada, including potential changes to temporary and permanent residence pathways.

What was the main topic of Minister Miller's speech on March 21st?

The speech outlined the government's intentions and rationale for changes in immigration policies, affecting both temporary and permanent residents, and the future direction of immigration in Canada.

What percentage of temporary residents in Canada are international students?

42% of temporary residents in Canada are international students on study permits.

What is the current breakdown of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada?

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program comprises 9% of the total temporary residents in Canada.

How does the government plan to address the number of international students in Canada?

The government intends to reduce the total numbers of international students by at least a third, implementing measures such as increasing the minimum funds required for studying and restricting the number of schools eligible for postgrad work permits.

What changes are being made to spousal work permits for international students?

Spouses of international students are no longer eligible for open spousal work permits unless the principal applicant is pursuing a Masters or PhD or is in certain high-demand professions.

What is the current status of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for public-private partnership schools?

As of May 2024, public-private partnership schools will no longer be eligible for PGWPs.

How might the government's approach to immigration impact the upcoming election?

Immigration could become a wedge issue in the election, with the government's changes to immigration policy potentially influencing voter sentiment.

What is the current percentage of temporary residents that are asylum seekers in Canada?

Asylum seekers make up 5% of the current temporary residents in Canada.

How does the government plan to link refugees with the Canadian labor market?

The government is implementing the Economic Mobility Pathway for Refugees (EMP) to connect internationally recognized refugees with employers in Canada, particularly within rural communities.

What is the implication of reducing the validity period of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) from 18 months to 6 months?

The reduction in LMIA validity periods means employers must be more precise in their recruitment efforts and that workers must apply for their work permit within a shorter window, or risk losing the opportunity.

What advice is given to those currently in Canada seeking to improve their chances for permanent residency?

Individuals in Canada are advised to learn French, maximize their language test scores, and if their work permit is expiring, to discuss LMIA options with their employers as soon as possible.