The Impact of COVID-19 on Immigration Policies and Procedures in Canada

The Impact of COVID-19 on Immigration Policies and Procedures in Canada

• As a result of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, which has spread across Canada, the Government of Canada has been making a number of policy changes to address the public health impacts associated with the virus. The changes will affect many different areas of the immigration system, including refugee admissions, the temporary foreign worker program (TFWP), the international mobility program (IMP), and settlement services.
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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Two-Step Immigration Process

• One of the main goals of Canada's new refugee policies is to increase the number of refugee claimants whose applications are granted. This process involves two steps: first, a person must apply for refugee status under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and second, they must gain work experience in Canada to qualify for permanent residence.
• In practice, however, this can be a complex process that can take years to complete. This is because there are a number of different categories of refugee claims that are processed, and some have to go through several levels before they can be considered. The most significant change under COVID-19 is that a refugee claimant must seek legal assistance from an official organization, rather than from a family member or friend in their home country.
• The Government of Canada has also increased the number of Canadians who are trained to identify refugees and to support them in the refugee determination process. In addition, it has increased the use of community-based support workers to provide assistance and counseling to refugee claimants.
• Moreover, in an attempt to reduce the number of refugee claimants, the Government of Canada has implemented a number of measures to control the flow of immigrants into Canada, including enforcing the STCA and implementing new screening systems. Despite these changes, however, the overall numbers of refugees admitted to Canada continue to increase.
• There has also been an ongoing effort to promote more French-speaking immigrants, with the aim of increasing the number of francophone migrants settling outside Quebec. This goal has been aided by initiatives such as the Francophone Immigration Strategy and the Mobilite Francophone stream in the International Mobility Program.

Immigrants in Canada's Service and Health Care Industries

• The share of immigrants in the healthcare and social assistance sectors has increased significantly over the past several decades, especially among women. In particular, the employment of immigrant nurse aides and orderlies has increased significantly since 1996. The increase in this occupation has been driven by the fact that a growing number of people with a disability and mental health problems are becoming eligible to receive medical care.
• Although there is an increasing demand for these services, the cost of providing them can be very high. This means that there are a limited number of organizations that can offer them at scale, and they may be under-resourced.
• A lack of information about the immigration process and Canada's labor market can also lead to disappointment and frustration among migrant workers. This is particularly true for those seeking permanent residency in Canada.