Date: Monday, November 25, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM EST
Location: Room 135-B, West Block, House of Commons, Ottawa
What:
Migrant and refugee leaders and housing advocates from across Canada will hold a press conference to demand an end to immigration cuts, systemic exploitation, and racist rhetoric. This media event is taking place in advance of Immigration Miller’s presentation to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on Canada’s 2025-2027 immigration levels later that day. The press conference will highlight the devastating impacts of recent federal immigration changes and call for real solutions to Canada’s housing and affordability crisis, and permanent resident status for all.
Why:
Migrants in Canada face abuse because of lack of permanent residency. Recent federal immigration changes, including drastic cuts to permanent residency, new restrictions on international students and temporary foreign workers, and harsh rules targeting refugees, have exacerbated a humanitarian crisis. These changes will push 2.3 million people out of Canada in the next two years, force millions more into more precarious conditions, and fuel exploitation and family separation. These changes are happening because the government is trying to shore up support by scapegoating migrants for Canada’s affordability crisis.
Speakers will ask all parties at the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM), which will receive Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for consideration to:
- Call on the federal government to reverse its plan to slash immigration and expel 2.3 million migrants.
- Commit to permanent residency for all migrants, including international students, refugees, temporary foreign workers, and undocumented people.
- Address Canada’s systemic failures in housing, healthcare, and labor protections instead of scapegoating migrants.
Speakers:
- Diana Gallego, President, Canadian Council for Refugees
- Michèle Biss, National Director, National Right to Housing Network
- Monieya Jess, Undocumented former migrant farmworker, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
- Novjot Salaria, International Student Graduate, Post-Graduate Work Permit Holders Committee & Naujawan Support Network
- Sarom Rho, Spokesperson, Migrant Rights Network
- Organizer, Immigrant Workers Centre
Background:
The federal government has slashed immigration over the last year and half with multiple policies, including:
Permanent residency
- Permanent residency has been slashed for 2025 – 2027 limiting opportunities for migrants who are already living and working in Canada to transition to permanent status and increasing their likelihood of becoming undocumented. Particularly low-wage migrants are impacted. Even accepted refugees will be excluded, and many will remain separated from their spouse and children for years. Questions remain about promised programs such as permanent residency on landing for care workers.
- Provincial Programs Abruptly Closed: Programs in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta, and Saskatchewan have been abruptly closed, while New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and PEI have changed rules without warning and spaces in these programs have been cut, leaving hundreds of thousands of migrants in limbo. Many of these programs were the only way through which low-waged workers could apply for permanent residency and this door has been effectively closed for 2025-2027.
- Regularization of undocumented people delayed: In December 2021, Prime Minister Trudeau promised comprehensive regularization, a promise reiterated by multiple Immigration Ministers until June 2024, when the Immigration Minister abruptly about-turned despite proclaiming massive economic and humanitarian benefits of regularization. Minister Miller has since promised a smaller, undefined program that has not been announced.
International students and graduated students
- No Renewals for Expiring PGWPs: Over 200,000 PGWPs are set to expire by end of 2025, leaving many stranded in Canada, some of whom have already applied for permanent residency, with no other options to stay. Many are being forced to choose between being uprooted and becoming undocumented.
- Ban on Family Reunification: Spouses of undergraduate and college students can no longer receive work permits, and spouses and children of graduate students in programs shorter than 16 months are also barred from being in Canada as of Fall 2024.
- Study Permit Caps: The government capped study permits for undergraduate and college programs in 2024, with caps on graduate students coming in 2025. Even international students already in Canada will be barred from renewing their permits if the cap is reached.
- Higher Proof of Funds: Since January 2024, international students must show more financial resources—$20,635 per person plus tuition, up from $10,000. These increased requirements effectively shut out lower-income students.
- Work Hour Restrictions: As of November 2024, international students are limited to 24 off-campus work hours. These limits force those needing more income into undocumented work, increasing their risk of exploitation and wage theft.
- Restrictions on PGWP Eligibility: Graduates of private colleges and college students in fields not aligned with specific industries are no longer eligible for PGWPs, which are crucial for those wishing to work and settle permanently in Canada. This restriction does not apply to bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree holders.
Temporary foreign workers
- Cuts to Family Work Permits: Only spouses of workers in managerial jobs will be eligible for work permits. Even high-wage workers, such as chefs and truck drivers, will face family separation. A promised expansion of work permits for family members of low-wage workers has been cancelled, disproportionately affecting women.
- Shorter Work Permits: Low-wage work permits (except for primary agriculture) will be limited to one year. Migrants will be forced to pay high fees to renew their work permits annually.
- No LMIAs in High Unemployment Areas: Starting September 26, 2024, Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will not be issued in areas with over 6% unemployment, except for certain jobs in caregiving, agriculture, construction, food manufacturing, and education. Those already in Canada will be unable to renew their permits.
- Cap on Low-Wage LMIA Positions: Starting September 26, 2024, employers cannot hire more than 10% of their workforce through low-wage LMIAs, except in some industries like farming – one of the sectors with the most rampant labour violations – and caregiving. Those already in Canada will also be unable to renew their permits.
- End to Work Permits for Visitors: As of August 28, 2024, visitors can no longer transition to temporary work permits without leaving Canada, an option that many relied on to maintain status and income during long government delays in processing applications.
Refugees
- Increased Visa Rejections and Border Refusals: Reports indicate a surge in rejected visitor visa applications, with a higher ratio of refusals compared to approvals this year. Border officers are also turning away an average of 3,727 foreign travelers each month, many of whom may be potential refugees for whom the government has eliminated other options.
- 14,000 places slashed from the humanitarian component of immigration levels: These cuts impact real people fleeing persecution and seeking safety in Canada or struggling in conflict zones around the world facing violence, starvation, and death. The cuts in the humanitarian component particularly fails those already here whom we have committed to protect and their family members abroad, all but ensuring families will remain separated for many years to come.
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MEDIA CONTACT (EN/FR): Karen Cocq, karen@migrantworkersalliance.org, 647-970-8464
Migrant Rights Network is Canada’s largest coalition of migrant-led organizations taking action for immigrant and worker justice: www.migrantrights.ca