Toronto / April 2025 - There is much discussion at various tables across the broad national Immigration and settlement sector on ‘Canada’s immigration program’, ‘the future of settlement services’, ‘visioning a new immigration program’ and ‘a new vision for Canada’… you get my drift. All important. All timely. However, the urgency I felt for these conversations just a month or so ago, has receded.
A number of weeks ago I wrote in this space, that for the first time in my adult life, one of the key questions during the 2025 federal election would be immigration. At the Council at that time, the Board and segments of the membership were seized with a sense of urgency to counteract and reverse the growing disillusionment of the general population (including immigrants and their communities) with our immigration program. And the migrant blame that came with it. From low wage service migrant workers to international students, the post-pandemic affordability crisis was laid directly at their feet. The government’s confusing and in some cases punitive responses reinforced and gave credence to the migrant blame game.
It appears that I’ll have to keep waiting for immigration to be among the top two election issues. At least the way it was being framed by the various media and polling outfits. That’s a good thing. This pause in the almost daily offerings of anti-immigration (and immigrants in some circles) in the mainstream media, provides an opportunity for us who are advocates of a fair and just immigration and refugee protection plan and systems, and the supporting services and programs that must accompany any immigration program.
For the immigration and refugee serving sector, the priority immigration issues are: A return to permanent immigration (permanent residency on landing) for the majority coming to Canada, a rescinding of the STCA (Safe Third Country Agreement) with the United States that has effectively shut down our southern border to those fleeing for their lives and seeking a safe haven; the implementation of a fair immigration status regularization program for the tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of people here and contributing as best as they can while being undocumented and open to exploitation; and for members and other agencies providing support services and programs to immigrants and refugees, an ongoing commitment to fully fund the refugee and immigrant service and program ecosystem.
We need ongoing investments in the immigration system- from selection to settlement and ‘integration’ (still a contested term) services. Instead of laying off the expected three thousand plus Department employees, many should be redeployed to deal with the backlog that exists across the various immigration selection streams. Maybe with adequate staffing we can move away from the various ‘pilot’ initiatives like the Caregivers program that sees a new ‘pilot’ every five years or so.
I’m writing this on the morning following the launch of this new iteration of the Caregivers program. From all reports I’ve read and personal stories that have been shared with me, it was another chaotic roll-out. I read in an article by one of my favourite journalists on the Immigration beat of a major mainstream paper, of the anxiety of a caregiver caring for an elderly gentleman. She has two daughters in her country of origin. She has only months left on her work permit. She can sense that her window of opportunity to sponsor her girls as dependents is fast closing as they’re one or two years away from the cut-off age of dependents for Canadian immigration purposes.
From all accounts, including from the Migrant Rights Network, which had opened it office doors to support caregivers in getting their applications submitted online, the process was fraught with technical challenges. According to what they shared with the media, only about a fifth of the twenty or so people who came for support were successful in getting their applications submitted.
From reports only 2,350 online applications were being accepted for this launch – in each stream of those caring for the elderly and for children. Most applications had to be submitted online, while just over two hundred and fifty was accepted by regular mail. Earlier I talked about the need and our call for a fair and just immigration system. This roll-out of the Caregiver program was not fair or just. From the assumption that people (primarily women) making barely more than minimum wage, would have access to computers and the internet (or even know how to maneuver in the online environment), to the timing of the launch (very few caregivers have the privilege of being able to take time off from scheduled work) shows how little thought is given to the end-user and their circumstances, in this program design.
In addition to the frustration of uploading applications into a technically faulty system working against the clock given the cap on applications (from reports, the quota was reached by 3pm), those who were successful in submitting their applications must now wonder how long it will take for their processing.
As I said above, I’m wondering if there was thought given to redeploying some of the laid-off or soon to be laid-off IRCC workers to the selection branch to assist with clearing the backlogs, or is the Department planning to rely solely on AI and other technical solutions (still problematic) to the backlog, while letting go of people and the human face (and empathy one hopes) so critical to this work?
In a few weeks we will have a new Prime Minister and a new government in place. Our advocacy will continue. We will tailor our messaging and our approach to better suit the priorities and preferred engagement style of the government but the principles we espouse will remain the same: A fair and just immigration system. Access and equitable opportunities for all who reside in Canada. Full resourcing of the ecosystem of supports in the non-profit sector.
In the meantime, there is an election on and it is the time for organizations like OCASI to use our platform to advance a progressive agenda for gender equality, workers’ rights and adequate compensation (including EI and Employment Equity), the financial and social well-being of seniors and people living with disabilities, the ongoing work of decolonization and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples ,and the implementation of an intersectional anti-racist policy framework across all government departments.
When those wanting to represent us in the federal parliament knock on our doors, ask them the hard question: What are you and your party going to do for my most marginalized and vulnerable neighbours?
Then, vote!
In Solidarity
dd