September 2024

 

Each time Canada or the USA heads into a federal/presidential election period, the number of inquiries I get increases. When an American presidential election is coming up, I get calls mostly from Democratic supporters hoping to move to Canada should a Republican president be nominated. For Canadian elections, the calls are from temporary residents hoping to apply for permanent residence, worried that a change in government will result in less favourable immigration policies. On September 4^th, Canada’s second largest political party ended an agreement to prop up a minority governing party. We are only one confidence vote away from a general election. With the US presidential election scheduled for November 5^th, I’m hearing from many antsy individuals on both sides of the border.

Canada has had a liberal government since 2013. During their time in power, the number of new permanent residents increased from 259,000 in 2013 to 471,771 in 2023. The number of study permits issued went from 111,865 to 684,385. In 2013, the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada was 649,700; in 2021, it was 963,400.

In 2023, the number of new jobs created in Canada was less than that of new work permits issued. Unemployment rose in August 2024, and it was a tough job market for students this past summer.

With an election looming, the governing Liberal party has heeded public opinion to lessen the number of temporary residents in Canada. On September 26^th, new restrictions for work permit applications came into effect. These measures follow a cap placed on study permit applications announced in January.  The current immigration minister has also promised cuts to the permanent resident program.

If a Conservative government is voted in, more changes will undoubtedly come. The leader of the party has promised further cuts, tying the number of new permanent residents to the number of new homes built and considering other factors such as access to health care and jobs. Statements like that are guaranteed to make permanent resident hopefuls jumpy. ‘May you live in interesting times’ is never less welcome than when it is your future that will be affected.