Typically, an Uber journey from Toronto’s Pearson Airport into the city guarantees a substantial pay for the driver during late-night hours. However, this was not the case for Sachindeep Singh on the night of the 19th of September. A couple of kilometres into his scheduled ride, Singh’s Uber app ceased functioning. His employment permit had reached its expiration at the stroke of midnight, mirroring Canada’s position in putting him on alert.
Singh, a 23 year-old individual, migrated to Canada in 2019 as an overseas student. The status of his immigration permitted him to acquire work and proposed a route to permanent citizenship—an arrangement named ‘study-work-stay’ on the Canadian government’s official immigration webpage. However, amidst escalating concerns that immigrants were augmenting the country’s deep-seated issues surrounding housing and healthcare, among other matters, the state has performed an about-face on its past stance of inviting millions of fresh faces to elevate its economy.
A multitude of regulations have been introduced this year, particularly targeting Canada’s extensive temporary residence scheme, which have constructed blockades, throwing numerous migrants like Singh into a state of legal uncertainty. Hundreds of thousands of young individuals have felt the allure of the Canadian dream of becoming permanent residents through education, as offered by the international student programme followed by Singh, a large number being from India.
One noteworthy category of temporary residents in Canada consists of international students who, upon graduation, are eligible for employment permits to continue residing legally in Canada. Other groups incorporate employees arriving at the direct request of certain companies and the least notable group consists of asylum seekers.
In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Canada’s temporary residency programme saw a significant expansion as the nation’s economy grappled with a labour deficit. Consequently, around three million individuals reside in Canada under some form of temporary immigration status, with 2.2 million arriving just within the last two years as per state records. Temporary inhabitants make up 6.8 percent of the nation’s total populace of 41.3 million, a surge from 3.5 percent in 2022.
However, the Canadian economy is now generating fewer jobs and the rate of unemployment, sitting above 6 percent, remains steadfast. This figure is even greater for temporary inhabitants at 14 percent. Several Canadian cities are experiencing a crisis in affordable housing, and a handful of provinces have stretched healthcare systems to their limits. Detractors argue that the voluminous count of temporary inhabitants exacerbates these issues, and public sentiment towards immigrants has seen a downturn.
Marc Miller, Canada’s Minister for Immigration, has declared significant reductions to immigration limits since the beginning of the year. The reductions include revised student visa quantities and a restricted capacity for businesses to hire temporary foreign workers. The country is focusing on controling the temporary residence scheme, which might result in non-renewal of numerous nearing or expired work permits for immigrants.
Miller acknowledged last month that immigration has been a substantial factor in preventing economic downturn. However, he also conceded that certain elements had become excessive. Miller did not react to a request for a comment, but it is anticipated that the government will impose more constraints in the coming month.
The country has been historically welcoming to overseas-born individuals, with one out of five Canadians born abroad. Past ruling parties, both Conservative and Liberal, enacted immigration policies aimed at boosting worker numbers and population growth. Yet, this view appears to be altering. According to polls, it suggests most Canadians think the country has admitted an excessive amount of immigrants in a short span. For example, a poll in August showed that almost two-thirds agree the current immigration policy is overly permissive.
Many immigrants believe they’re being unjustly singled out, stating that they were welcomed to Canada only to be faced with the potential of exiting if their work permits are not extended.
The contentious nature of Canada’s immigration policy echoes more extreme disputes in the United States and Europe. In the US, the upcoming presidential election will focus primarily on illegal immigration with promises of mass deportations from the former president and increased rigidity from the vice-president. Throughout Europe, the issue has reshaped politics over the past ten years, triggering a surge in anti-immigrant and occasionally explicitly racist political parties.
However, the immense majority of Canadian immigrants came legally and the political discussion largely remains amicable, despite the recent shift in attitude. Some experts contend that issues like housing and healthcare strain are due to chronic government underinvestment rather than high immigration rates. Evidently, in places like Brampton, a city near Toronto, the tension between the economy and the surge of immigrants is noticeable.
The Regional Council Member for Brampton and Peel, Gurpartap Singh Toor, an immigrant in Canada since 2011, remarked that the swelling inflow of newcomers is overtaxing resources. According to Mr Toor, the region’s healthcare facilities, including a single hospital and a minor health centre, are inadequate for the populace, which is approximately 700,000.
In addition, Mr Toor raised concerns about the property sector, stating that housing costs and availability have been deteriorating. The issue is exacerbated by dishonest landlords who rent small flats to groups of students for excessive fees, thereby making it unaffordable for local families.
The national bank of Canada, equivalent to the country’s Fed, has conceded that regions populated by temporary residents are faced with limited and more costly rental options compared to areas with fewer such dwellers. The bank, however, attributed the scarce availability of property to burdensome administrative rules and a scarcity of construction workforce.
Flexibility in its immigration policy has been pledged by Canada, with newcomers to be absorbed as per the need and restricted when surplus. “The temporary foreign worker initiative operates like an accordion,” highlighted the federal minister for employment, Randy Boissonnault, in a recent press briefing. “It adapts to the economic state. During periods of elevated job vacancies, we accept more individuals. Conversely, as the economy shrinks, we hinder entrance, making it more challenging for people to immigrate,” he further explained.
However, for individuals like Singh, whose work permissions have expired, opportunities are scarce. Singh and his kin in India invested 40,000 Canadian dollars (€27,000) for office management and hospitality academic degrees in a Canadian institution, aspiring to establish a secure future in the country. Yet, Singh is now exploring alternate options. His options could include re-enrolling in a Canadian college and bearing the increased tuition costs for overseas students, which in return provides him the right to work and continue seeking permanent residence. Alternatively, he could apply for a visitor visa, which does not permit legal employment, or return to India, an option he finds the least attractive, considering the significant time and financial resources he has already invested in Canada.
Gurpreet Malhotra, the CEO of Indus Community Services, a government-backed organisation assisting immigrants, highlighted the uncertain future faced by many temporary dwellers whose authorizations are nearing expiration or have already expired. This uncertainty, he noted, drives some to take up unlawful or dangerous tactics.
He explained that some of these individuals resort to living and working illegally, often in low-paying jobs such as cleaning, warehouse work, or restaurant kitchens where they get paid less than the minimum wage. This dire need for income makes them susceptible to joining criminal groups. Malhotra added that some even lodge for asylum even if they are ineligible for it, as a means for them to extend their stay.
Government data reveals that asylum applications filed by international students has more than doubled this year, with 13,000 requests made within the first eight months, compared to figures from the previous year. An increasing number of these individuals are also migrating to the US, leading to a spike in illegal crossings at the northern US border from Canada.
In Brampton, international students, mostly from India, convene in a parking lot every afternoon to share information about policy shifts, organise protests, and provide mutual support. Their placards read: “Good Enough to Work? Good Enough to Stay.”
Local councillor, Mr Toor, criticised the Canadian government’s abrupt policy change after years of relying on temporary residents. He considered it an excess and felt it conveyed a sense of betrayal. This piece originally featured in The New York Times.