Canada has temporarily paused private refugee sponsorships by groups of five or more individuals and community organizations to address an application backlog. This suspension, now in effect, will continue until December 31, 2025, as announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
According to the government, the demand for private sponsorships significantly exceeds the available spots. Under the 2025-2027 immigration plan, Canada aims to welcome 23,000 privately sponsored refugees annually, with next year’s overall refugee target set at over 58,000. Meanwhile, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada reports over 85,000 pending refugee claims as of October.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted that the federal government could have acted sooner to address issues in immigration programs. In a YouTube video shared on Sunday, Trudeau discussed recent adjustments to permanent resident admissions and the temporary foreign worker program.
Canada plans to reduce its permanent residency targets by 20% over the next two years, lowering the goal to 365,000 by 2027. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explained that the post-pandemic immigration surge was intended to strengthen the labor market and prevent a recession. However, he criticized “bad actors,” such as certain corporations and educational institutions, for exploiting the system, and condemned scams that prey on vulnerable immigrants with false promises of citizenship.
Trudeau acknowledged that the government should have responded more quickly to changing economic conditions by adapting immigration policies. The updated immigration plan aims to stabilize population growth while addressing housing shortages, with plans to gradually increase immigration levels in the future.
Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Trudeau’s approach, accusing him of reversing his own policies. Poilievre emphasized the need for a system that supports legal pathways for newcomers and helps them succeed in Canada.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced plans to reform the refugee system, including faster processing for claims unlikely to succeed. Statistics Canada reported that over 265,000 non-permanent residents arrived in Canada during the second quarter of 2024, with many refugee claims coming from international students.
Shifting immigration policies have caused confusion among newcomers, making them more susceptible to scams, migrant advocacy groups have cautioned. Reports include incidents of deepfake videos impersonating a Toronto lawyer to defraud immigrants during a time of increased uncertainty about Canada’s immigration regulations.
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