In short:
- The proposed Strong Borders Act is set to expand the powers of the immigration officials to pause and stop the acceptance or processing of immigration applications en masse in the public interest.
- However, the demand for skilled immigrant workers in fields such as STEM, healthcare and agriculture has been growing steadily in recent years.
- Many fear that this reality might force the Carney government to disproportionately target low-skilled, low-wage workers and asylum seekers under the new Bill.
Back in June, the Carney Administration introduced the Strong Borders Act, Bill C-2, with the stated goals of ensuring safe borders for Canadians, as the name of the Bill indicates. However, the Bill also aims to empower the immigration officials to cancel, suspend or vary the acceptance or processing of immigration applications en masse in the public interest. It is not clear how these expanded powers will be implemented when the Bill finally becomes law.
Background
Despite the measures taken by the Administration so far to rein in the immigration numbers, the backlog of immigration applications continues to grow. The pending applications at the end of July stood at 2.2 million, which included 892,400 for permanent residence and another 1,079,300 applications for temporary residence. The applications for citizenship made up the rest.
The proposed Strong Borders Act will empower the immigration officials to clear such backlogs quickly by rejecting some of the application groups outright. Critics have already expressed concerns that humanitarian programs, which do not contribute economically, might be among the first to be affected under the new rules.
It is expected that the Conservatives, with their tougher stance on immigration, are likely to support it, although they might demand a few changes to the bill in its present form. Once passed, the provisions of the Bill will empower the Administration to take further measures to get many of the temporary residents out of Canada.
Which applicants are most likely to be impacted?
There is a strong possibility that once the Bill is passed, many of the application backlogs will be cleared by simply rejecting these applications under the new powers. The Administration is likely to consider the processing time and size of these backlogged applications, and the potential economic benefits when deciding which applicant groups to go after.
Such policies are likely to disproportionately affect lower-skilled immigrants doing lower-wage jobs in Canada. Another affected group will be refugees, currently awaiting their applications to be processed. They are mostly sponsored by private groups, and once the Bill is passed, most of their applications are likely to be rejected. Any applicants with minor criminal records are also likely to face the same outcome.
Conclusion
It is inevitable that, with the general public opinion currently not in favour of increasing immigration, the Carney Administration must find a way to meet their target of bringing the population of temporary residents down to 5% of the total Canadian population. The temporary residents remain steady at 7% of the population, and the demand for skilled immigrants in the fields of STEM, healthcare, agriculture, and skilled trades is not abating. Faced with these options, the Administration will have no choice but to focus on getting some of the existing temporary residents out of the country by 2027.
How can our immigration lawyers help you?
Once the Strong Borders Act is passed, the immigration rules are likely to become stricter, leading to more rejections. If you are planning to apply for permanent residency or a work permit, get in touch with our immigration legal team to help you figure out how you can stay ahead of such changes. Our experienced immigration lawyers can guide you through the process and ensure that your application is processed on time.
Call our immigration lawyers at 905-405-0199 for a free consultation today.
