It seems that Canada doesn't want to be the destination for illegal immigrants fleeing the US.
Trudeau Backpedals on Immigration
CBC Article
David Baxter · CBC News · Posted: Nov 18, 2024 7:26 AM CST | Last Updated: 5 hours ago
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a nearly seven-minute video on YouTube on Sunday in which he says the federal government could have acted faster to rein in immigration programs. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Trudeau released a nearly seven-minute video on YouTube on Sunday talking about the recent reduction in permanent residents being admitted to Canada and changes to the temporary foreign worker program.
Over the next two years, the permanent residency stream is being reduced by about 20 per cent to 365,000 in 2027.
In the video, Trudeau talks about the need to increase immigration after pandemic lockdowns ended in order to boost the labour market, saying the move helped avoid a full-blown recession.
But after that, Trudeau says some "bad actors" took advantage of these programs.
"Some saw that as a profit, to game the system. We saw way too many large corporations do this," Trudeau said.
WATCH | Trudeau on bad actors and why Canada's changing its immigration system:
The prime minister adds that "too many" colleges and universities used international student programs to "raise their bottom line" as non-Canadian students pay significantly higher tuition. He also said scammers targeted "vulnerable immigrants" with bogus paths to citizenship.
"Looking back, when the post-pandemic boom cooled and businesses no longer needed the additional labour help, as a federal team we could have acted quicker and turned off the taps faster," Trudeau said.
From there, Trudeau talks about the new immigration plan with the stated goal of lowering the amount of permanent and temporary immigrants coming to Canada.
In addition to a phased reduction in new permanent residents over the next two years, recent changes have made it more difficult for employers to get temporary worker permits approved.
When reached for comment, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's spokesperson Sebastian Skamski referred The Canadian Press to an interview Poilievre did with CKNW 980's The Jas Johal Show in Vancouver where Poilievre discussed immigration.
In that interview, Poilievre said much of his criticism of the current immigration system is coming from what Trudeau himself has said since enacting these recent changes.
"Now, he's basically denouncing his entire immigration policy and expecting us to believe that he can fix the problems that he caused," Poilievre said.
Poilievre has previously said he would tie immigration rates to available housing while considering other factors like access to health care and jobs.
Speaking on background, an official from the Prime Minister's Office said that the video is being released as another means of communicating government policy to Canadians.
As for concerns around the potential for increased irregular migration given U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's deportation promises, the official said the video was filmed before the American election.
Trudeau Backpedals on Immigration
CBC Article
Trudeau says he could have acted faster to make immigration changes, blames 'bad actors'
'We could have acted quicker and turned off the taps faster,' Trudeau said
David Baxter · CBC News · Posted: Nov 18, 2024 7:26 AM CST | Last Updated: 5 hours ago
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a nearly seven-minute video on YouTube on Sunday in which he says the federal government could have acted faster to rein in immigration programs. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
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Trudeau released a nearly seven-minute video on YouTube on Sunday talking about the recent reduction in permanent residents being admitted to Canada and changes to the temporary foreign worker program.
Over the next two years, the permanent residency stream is being reduced by about 20 per cent to 365,000 in 2027.
In the video, Trudeau talks about the need to increase immigration after pandemic lockdowns ended in order to boost the labour market, saying the move helped avoid a full-blown recession.
But after that, Trudeau says some "bad actors" took advantage of these programs.
"Some saw that as a profit, to game the system. We saw way too many large corporations do this," Trudeau said.
WATCH | Trudeau on bad actors and why Canada's changing its immigration system:
The prime minister adds that "too many" colleges and universities used international student programs to "raise their bottom line" as non-Canadian students pay significantly higher tuition. He also said scammers targeted "vulnerable immigrants" with bogus paths to citizenship.
"Looking back, when the post-pandemic boom cooled and businesses no longer needed the additional labour help, as a federal team we could have acted quicker and turned off the taps faster," Trudeau said.
From there, Trudeau talks about the new immigration plan with the stated goal of lowering the amount of permanent and temporary immigrants coming to Canada.
In addition to a phased reduction in new permanent residents over the next two years, recent changes have made it more difficult for employers to get temporary worker permits approved.
Video filmed before U.S. election
Trudeau says the goal of the government's immigration reduction is to help stabilize population growth while housing stocks catch up, and then to consider gradually increasing immigration rates once again.When reached for comment, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's spokesperson Sebastian Skamski referred The Canadian Press to an interview Poilievre did with CKNW 980's The Jas Johal Show in Vancouver where Poilievre discussed immigration.
In that interview, Poilievre said much of his criticism of the current immigration system is coming from what Trudeau himself has said since enacting these recent changes.
"Now, he's basically denouncing his entire immigration policy and expecting us to believe that he can fix the problems that he caused," Poilievre said.
- New immigration plan aims to stabilize population growth, housing market: minister
- Canada still an 'open country' despite immigration cuts, says minister
- Analysis
Trudeau's Liberals are trying to save the Canadian consensus on immigration — and their legacy
Poilievre has previously said he would tie immigration rates to available housing while considering other factors like access to health care and jobs.
Speaking on background, an official from the Prime Minister's Office said that the video is being released as another means of communicating government policy to Canadians.
As for concerns around the potential for increased irregular migration given U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's deportation promises, the official said the video was filmed before the American election.
