Immigration

We live in a time of rising global uncertainty. It is more important than ever that the Canadian immigration system can respond to arising global crises in an expedient and flexible manner. Alarmingly, this is not the case.

Even before major global refugee crises such as the Afghanistan, and Ukrainian crises, IRCC has been struggling with massive backlogs in all the immigration streams. Delayed immigration application is the most common request for assistance at my office, with some applications delayed for years! Behind the delayed applications are separated families, missed opportunities, and in some cases, immigration is a life-and-death situation for people who need to leave dangerous situations.

To start, IRCC should stop the practice of returning applications when there are minor mistakes and missing information and documents that can be easily provided by applicants. IRCC must also end oppressive immigration policies such as the inhumane cap on parent/grandparents’ sponsorship applications, closed work permits for migrant workers, and the unfair treatment of caregivers and domestic workers.

Lack of resources for IRCC is the major root cause of delayed applications. I will continue to advocate for adequate resources for IRCC to process applications in consistently reasonable timeframes and for immigration policies that are more just.

BBC: Canada proposes sweeping immigration and security bill

Jenny Kwan, a member of parliament from the left-leaning New Democratic Party, said the bill "should be alarming to many Canadians".
A big chunk of the new legislation deals with curbing the flow of fentanyl and illegal weapons across the US-Canada border - an issue that US President Donald Trump has used as justification for his tariffs on Canada.

Canadian Press: Federal bill includes new security powers to tighten border, immigration system

NDP public safety and immigration critic Jenny Kwan disagreed with the minister, saying the bill "should be alarming to many Canadians" because it would allow the government to breach civil liberties.

Kwan said she was particularly concerned about the planned powers to share immigration-related information and cancel applications already in the system.

She said a prospective newcomer to Canada could follow the required steps and "out of the blue, after this bill passes, the government can then just decide, 'I'm sorry, I'm just going to withdraw your application. I'm going to suspend your application. I'm just going to deny your application.'

"Is that striking a fair balance of civil liberties? I think not."

CPAC VIDEO: Scrum on Government's Bill C-2 Strong Borders Act

Click the image to watch the CPAC video

Householder Spring 2025: Liberals Gutting Immigration Services and IRCC Staff Puts Lives at Risk

Cutting 3,300 immigration staff will only create further chaos and delays in processing at IRCC. Many of the immigration streams are already faced with severe processing delays. We have seen little to no improvements on the processing times of the vast majority of the streams. For some it’s worse.

VIDEO: Message to Mark Carney on renewed vision for immigration and economic security

Message to Mark Carney and other party leaders, calling on a renewed vision for immigration and in the face of deepening public concern for Canada's economic security. Now is a critical time to highlight the reciprocal relationship between immigration and a strong economy, and trends in anti-immigrant sentiment, driven by disinformation, must be addressed.

VIDEO: Message to Mark Carney on renewed vision for immigration

OPEN LETTER to Immigration Minister: Donald Trump's inadmissibility to Canada

Under Section 36(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, foreign nationals who have been convicted of a crime in another country that would constitute an indictable offence "punishable by a maximum term of at least 10 years" under Canadian law are inadmissible to Canada. Mr. Trump was found guilty by a unanimous 12-person jury of 34 counts of falsifying business records with intent to defraud and intent to commit and conceal other crimes, including violations of tax law and New York election law that prohibits conspiring to promote a political candidate through unlawful means. In addition, he was held in criminal contempt twice and was fined a total of $10,000.00 for violating a gag order 10 times.

These criminal convictions would carry serious legal consequences under Canada's Criminal Code meeting the threshold for inadmissibility under s. 36(b). Criminal record checks are an important component of the security screening. If you are criminally inadmissible to Canada, you must:

"satisfy an immigration or border services officer that you meet the legal requirements to be deemed rehabilitated;
apply for individual rehabilitation and get approved; or
receive a pardon or record suspension."

Toronto Star: This new Canadian immigration program is being heavily promoted by recruiters. Here’s why that’s causing concern

While foreign caregivers welcome the government move to grant them permanent residence upon arrival, Dulaca said Ottawa needs to immediately provide details about eligibility criteria, application procedures, applicable job experience and what documents are required and accepted. Details should not be released only on the opening day.

The concern is echoed by MP Jenny Kwan, the NDP’s immigration critic.

“There are serious concerns over the lack of any word from you on the details of such a program,” Kwan (Vancouver East) wrote in a December letter to Miller. “There is fear that your government could go back on its promise and that the new PR Pathway for Caregivers may not be put in place at all.”

City TV NEWS: Rally outside Vancouver college protests sudden termination of key English program

Dozens of students and instructors gathered at Vancouver Community College (VCC) Tuesday to protest the unexpected shutdown of the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program.

LINC, which has helped thousands of immigrants learn English, secure jobs, and work toward citizenship, is set to be terminated at the end of March due to federal funding cuts.

The move has left over 800 students without a clear path forward and more than 30 instructors without jobs.

“We found out just before winter break, and this was the first opportunity to get people together to raise spirits, because people have been really down.” said Frank Cosco, president of the VCC Faculty Association.

Toronto Star NEWS: ‘An ordeal that doesn’t end’: Lost Canadians’ citizenship at risk with Parliament suspended

If Ottawa lets the deadline lapse and the two-generation cut-off is thus voided, affected lost Canadians could just come reclaim their citizenship. If the court cuts the government some slack and grants another extension in light of the circumstances, the uncertainty will continue.

“During that extension period, we could very well be in an election, in which case, no bills could be passed,” said MP Jenny Kwan, immigration critic of the opposition NDP, and a staunch supporter of the bill.