On May 10, Immigration Minister Marc Miller convened in Montreal with provincial and territory immigration ministers to deliberate on common agenda items concerning immigration prospects in Canada.
The Federation of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) is the collective name for the ministers. An efficient Canadian immigration system is the goal of the FMRI, a decision-making organization. Its goals are to improve Canada’s immigration laws and initiatives while advancing shared immigration agendas.
Immigration ministers convene twice a year at the FMRI to discuss provincial goals and work together with other partners. The previous meeting took place in November of 2023.
The Minister repeatedly stated throughout yesterday’s conference that the conversations were generally constructive and fruitful, but she also pointed out that more work needed to be done, especially in relation to Canada’s foreign student program.
International students
According to him, the program has had a “turbulent” year because of a number of major adjustments that have been made since January. The introduction of Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs), a restriction on the number of foreign student applications that Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will review, and modifications to the requirements for eligibility for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) are some of these changes.
The minister said that the IRCC has been asked by several provinces and territories to take into account lengthier PGWPs for graduates of the trades and healthcare industries, both of which have an aging labor population.
The IRCC is developing a permanent residence pathway for construction workers, according to Minister Miller. He brought up the existing trades-related Express Entry category for applicants. But in 2024, this category will only make up 5% of the invitations to apply (ITAs) sent out in category-based Express Entry drawings, according to a recent Access to Information request (ATIP).
Furthermore, the Minister stated that, as in past meetings, provinces are striving to “cut the red tape” surrounding the procedure so that immigrants may begin working in their chosen sectors more quickly. Many of these occupations also require provincial certification. Recognizing foreign credentials is the province’s obligation.
Temporary resident levels
The IRCC revealed various new regulations and initiatives pertaining to temporary resident levels in Canada, and this meeting was the first since. In particular, the IRCC intends to start including levels for temporary residents in the yearly Immigration Levels Plan. According to Minister Miller, these goals will serve as a “soft cap” on the total number of temporary residents—those in the country on visit visas as well as work or study permits—for the ensuing three years.
As a whole, 6.2% of Canadians are now temporary residents. The upcoming years will see this figure drop to 5% due to the revised goals.
Minister Miller stated in his speech yesterday that in order for provinces to effectively prepare for the future and match incoming immigrants to labor force needs, more precise data exchange between the federal government, provinces, and territories is required.
Pursuing more domestic draws is one aspect of the IRCC’s goal to lower the number of temporary residents. The IRCC’s decision to renew the work permits of over 7,000 PGWP holders who are eligible for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program is an example of this in action.
By extending these work permits, Canada will be able to fill labor force deficits without having to admit as many foreign applicants.
To aid in the conversion of additional temporary residents to permanent residents, the IRCC stated that it was willing to collaborate in a similar manner with other provinces and territories.
