By Mata Press Service

The country’s immigration system has spiraled further into disarray with recent announcements of significant cuts to the intake of international students, and staffing cuts at Immigration Canada. It cuts to the Provincial Nominee Program - a key pathway for newcomers.

The latest announcements reflect the Trudeau Liberals’ shifting stance on immigration. They are moving to cut immigration levels in response to declining public support for newcomers, a trend highlighted in recent polls.

“Canada’s immigration system is in chaos due to these knee-jerk reactions from a government more focused on cutting numbers than addressing systemic problems,” said a Vancouver-based immigration lawyer.

The Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) has warned that the planned cuts of 3,300 jobs at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will exacerbate the already record-breaking backlog in application processing.

“Last month, immigration processing wait times hit unprecedented levels, and these cuts will only worsen an already dire situation,” said Rubina Boucher, CEIU National President.

“Families longing to reunite, businesses grappling with critical labour shortages, communities needing housing builders, and a healthcare system desperate for skilled workers will all feel the impact of this decision,” Boucher added.

An internal IRCC memo revealed that the job cuts will occur over the next three years, with 20% affecting permanent employees.

Additionally, term workforce reductions will include non-renewed or early-ended contracts, with affected staff receiving notices starting mid-February.

According to government data, as of 2024, Immigration Canada employed 13,092 public servants.

Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, has urged Ottawa to delay the cuts until Parliament resumes and establishes a clearer national immigration direction.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), which represents nearly 240,000 workers across the country, said IRCC workers are essential in processing citizenship, permanent and residency applications, and passports, conducting interviews and ensuring Canada can attract the talent needed to strengthen our economy.

The government has also announced tighter caps on international student entries for a second consecutive year.

In 2024, IRCC reduced study permit processing by approximately 40%. For 2025, the cap will drop further, limiting study permits to 437,000—a 10% decrease from the previous year.

These reductions have sent shockwaves through educational institutions reliant on international tuition fees for operations, staffing, and programs. Concerns have also been raised about declining campus diversity and broader economic fallout for communities supported by international students.

Over one million international students reside in Canada, contributing $30.3 billion annually to the GDP and supporting 353,850 jobs.

International students pay nearly five times more in tuition than domestic students, making them a critical source of revenue for Canadian post-secondary institutions.

“Our institutions have seen over a 50% drop in international student enrollment—an overnight cut that has deeply affected college operations and finances,” said Michael Conlon, executive director of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of B.C.

Further complicating matters, the federal government has mandated that most provinces and territories reduce their economic immigration allocations by 50% in 2025.

This decision has sparked concerns about labour market impacts and broader economic challenges, given the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 's importance in addressing labour shortages and regional growth.

For instance, Manitoba's Labor and Immigration Minister, Malaya Marcelino, emphasized that nearly 70% of the province’s newcomers arrive through the PNP. Manitoba approved 9,540 applications in 2024 and sought 12,000 for 2025 to meet labour demands. However, the federal cuts have cast doubt on these goals.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s allocations have been halved from 3,050 to 1,525, with only 25% designated for international immigrants, raising concerns about recruiting workers for sectors like healthcare and construction.

British Columbia’s PNP allocations have also been significantly reduced, dropping from 15,100 to 7,586 positions.

Amid these challenges, Immigration Minister Marc Miller has introduced an incentive for provinces and territories to accept more asylum seekers by offering them a greater share of economic migrant spots through the PNP.

Canada has seen a notable increase in asylum seekers over the past year, with Ontario and Quebec hosting most of them. Some provinces have resisted calls to accept more asylum seekers, citing efforts to ease pressure on central Canada.

In addition to refugee claims, federal immigration data reveal a surge in asylum claims by international students. The claims rose from 1,810 in 2018 to nearly 12,000 in 2023, with another 13,660 filed in the first nine months of 2024.

Experts argue that Canada’s sudden policy changes have revealed a deep breach of trust within the country’s immigration system. The surge in asylum claims highlights a systemic failure to prioritize support for those whom Canada previously encouraged to build their futures here.

Canada is also bracing for a potential influx of asylum seekers from the U.S., as President Donald Trump advances measures against undocumented migrants, including mass deportations.

Further immigration lawyers said there has been a sharp increase in the number of American LGBTQ2S+ people, calling to ask about refugee or asylum claims.

In a post on social media, Miller said: “Provinces and Territories that are willing to work in a responsible manner with Canada, including playing a role in taking on asylum seekers, will have an opportunity to regain coveted Provincial Nominee spots.”

Government data estimates that 58,350 individuals will gain refugee status in Canada this year.