Canada is set to introduce a “broad and comprehensive program” that will enable many undocumented immigrants to apply for permanent residency, according to an announcement by Immigration Minister Marc Miller. This development coincides with Canadian ambitious immigration targets aiming to welcome 500,000 immigrants per year by 2025.
Canada’s population growth has mainly been fuelled by immigration, which has played a role, in the economic expansion. There’s an estimated population of, around 300,000 to 600,000 people residing in the country. A significant number of these individuals don’t have status. Are, at risk of being deported. The proposed initiative holds the potential to offer them some benefits.
The program aims to provide assistance not to those who entered Canada unlawfully but, to individuals who initially came legally as temporary workers or international students but chose to stay in the country after their visas expired.
However, Minister Miller stressed that not all undocumented individuals would be eligible for permanent residency applications, particularly recent arrivals. A formal proposal detailing the pathway for undocumented immigrants to “regularize their status” is expected to be submitted to the cabinet this spring.
This groundbreaking initiative has been unveiled amid ongoing challenges such as housing shortages and high inflation. Regardless of these headwinds, Canadian authorities have decided to maintain current immigration targets for the next two years. The government plans to cease increasing immigration quotas from 2026 onwards, with aims to achieve annual new resident numbers of 465,000 in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and ultimately reach 500,000 in 2025—a target level that will be maintained into 2026.
Proposed Canadian Citizenship Path for Undocumented Immigrants Sparks Mixed Reactions
The Canadian government under the leadership of Minister Marc Miller, from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is currently developing a plan to offer a pathway to citizenship for individuals who’re currently undocumented. This proposal has been in the works, for two years since the Prime Minister requested that the IRCC explore options to regularize the status of migrants as noted in The Globe and Mails report.
The Immigrant Workers Centre appreciates this move towards establishing a “broad and comprehensive” program that aims to regularize the immigration status of hundreds of thousands of people. However, some concerns remain due to previous delays in implementing the program over the past 24 months. Additionally, the Minister has hinted that regularization might be limited to specific workforce sectors, which could exclude many undocumented migrants who work across various industries or cannot work due to health or caregiving responsibilities.
In response to these concerns, the Immigrant Workers Centre urges the Canadian government to promptly implement a truly inclusive and comprehensive regularization program. They also urge for a stop, to the deportation and detention of migrants, which has been increasing in Canada. Additionally, they advocate for the elimination of work permits that put hundreds of thousands of workers at risk and make them vulnerable, to losing their immigration status.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, exclusively written and published by IntraSource. The published information is sourced from various trusted platforms, such as news agencies and online media, mainly the Government of Canada and Canadian online media/websites, and should not be considered as legal or professional advice. IRCC’s requirements may change, so consult a lawyer/s and receive professional advice before making decisions or applications.
