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.

Globe & Mail: Border bill would give authorities sweeping security powers and restrict asylum claims

NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan told reporters that the bill could drive people whose visa applications have been cancelled or asylum claims unheard to live underground without documents. She also raised privacy concerns about proposals in the bill to allow government departments - including the immigration department - to share people’s personal information.

“I’m very concerned that those who have submitted claims in the immigration system will, all of a sudden, find their application being withdrawn,” she added.

In addition to the asylum changes, the bill also proposes new powers to border and law enforcement agencies.

The bill would give police and intelligence services enhanced power to access electronic information, in some cases without a warrant granted by a court.

iPolitics: Feds introduce border security bill to address ‘irritants’ for White House

NDP MP Jenny Kwan, the party’s critic for immigration and public safety, said the bill “should be alarming to many Canadians.”

“What we’re looking at is the government giving authority, broad-sweeping authority within government to cancel applications, to withdraw applications, to suspend applications, even those that are already in the inventory that is under process,” Kwan said of the proposed changes to the immigration system. “The other thing that the bill would enable is for people’s private information to be shared, and much of this authority is not prescribed in the legislation, but rather it will come out later on by regulation. So, that is to say we actually don’t even know how it is going to work.”

“I am very concerned that people’s privacies would be breeched. I’m very concerned that those who have submitted claims in the immigration system will, all of a sudden, find their application being withdrawn. And so, these are some of the measures that the government is bringing forward with this bill.”

The Conservatives did not respond to iPolitics‘ questions regarding whether they would support the proposed legislation.

Global News: Canada aims to tighten asylum rules, combat fentanyl with new border bill

NDP public safety critic Jenny Kwan took particular issue with the proposed government powers to suspend immigration applications and enhanced information sharing, which she called “alarming,” as well as the lack of a clear appeals process.

“They’re putting in all kinds of limitations, really trying to effectively prevent people from accessing asylum claims here in Canada,” she told reporters in Ottawa.

“Canada may as well just say to the international community, ‘We no longer support asylum seekers.’ They may as well just be honest about that.”

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."