2021 Canadian Federal Election – Immigration Promises from the Liberal Party
Immigration Commitments Included in the Liberal Party's Official Platform
With Justin Trudeau winning a minority government in Canada's recent federal election, it's important to take a look at where the governing party stands on immigration.
To help give you a better understanding of what to expect going forward, we will go over the Liberal Party's official platform released during the lead-up to the September 20 election.
Where The Liberal Party Stands on Immigration
The Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, lists the following commitments on its website as part of its official platform:
Strengthening Family Reunification and Reducing Processing Times
When it comes to family reunification, the Liberal Party promises the following:
-
Reduce processing times for immigration applications to under 12 months
-
Create electronic applications for family reunification
-
Build a new program that will provide spouses and children abroad with visas while they are waiting for their permanent residence applications to be processed.
Promoting Democracy and Human Rights
"We stand with citizens and activists around the world who are risking their safety to demand democratic rights and freedoms and will continue to promote democracy and human rights alongside civil society and international partners," states the party's website.
Here are a few ways the Liberal Party will address this issue:
-
Establish Canada as a safe haven for those facing persecution by resettling those fleeing political or security crises. This includes human rights defenders, journalists, feminists, LGBTQ2 activists, members of religious or ethnic minorities, and other persecuted groups
-
Expand the immigration stream for human rights defenders and ensure safe passage and resettlement
-
Resettle Afghan citizens fleeing the Taliban and increase the number of eligible refugees from 20,000 to 40,000.
Matching Workers With Jobs
The Liberal Party will continue to prioritize economic immigration to fill labour shortages by:
-
Reforming economic immigration programs and expanding permanent residence pathways through Express Entry for international students and temporary foreign workers
-
Expanding the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot and bring in 2,000 skilled refugees to fill labour shortages in high-demand employment sectors like health care
-
Creating a Trusted Employer system that will help streamline application processing for Canadian companies hiring temporary foreign workers
-
Expanding and improving the Global Talent Stream program by streamlining permit renewals, maintaining a 2-week processing time, and establishing an employer hotline
-
Continuing to work with Canada's provinces, territories, and regulatory bodies to help improve foreign credential recognition
These are all of the immigration commitments outlined by the Liberal Party in the official platform listed on its website. It will be interesting to see how many of these promises the federal government will fulfill over the next two years.
Court Orders That IRCC Took Too Long For Couple’s Immigration Application
Rare’ Case Sees Federal Court Ordering IRCC to Make Decision
It is no secret that immigrants can face long wait times throughout the application process as they wait to hear from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In a rare case, the Federal Court agreed with two individuals – Ghufran Almutadi and Abdulrhman Taskia – that the processing time of their application for refugee protection was unreasonably long.
The couple had first applied for permanent residence in Canada in 2016. They were born in Syria and had moved to Saudi Arabia where they got married, but remained Syrian citizens.
After facing financial problems in 2015, their status in Saudi Arabia became tenuous, but they feared returning to Syria would put them at risk of government persecution. Ms. Almutadi and Mr. Taskia therefore came to Canada in 2016 seeking refugee protection and shortly thereafter their status was approved by the Refugee Protection Division. Days later, they applied for permanent residence.
After waiting a year and a half the couple received their instructions for a medical examination in 2018, which they completed and filed within a month. But over the next 3 years they heard nothing in response – no updates or indications of what may be causing a delay.
The couple made two enquiries on their file between 2017 and 2021, though they were unsuccessful in learning what the problem was.
In February 2020, the couple applied for judicial review. Specifically, they requested that the Federal Court order IRCC to make a final decision on their application within seven days. The couple also asked that IRCC pay $7,500 in legal fees.
During judicial review, IRCC revealed that the reason they had taken so long was because of the need for a security review. The couple said they had family members linked to the Muslim Brotherhood which could have led to their persecution in Syria.
After analyzing whether the processing delay was longer than normal, whether there was a suitable justification, and the impact the delay has had on the couple, the Federal Court agreed with the claimants and declared the delay unreasonable. IRCC was ordered to make a final decision within 30 days and pay $1,500 in costs.
There are plenty of steps applicants can take to potentially decrease their wait time lengths. For example, ensuring that your application is accurate and organized may increase the likelihood that it is processed more quickly. You may also wish to reach out to an immigration lawyer, as these professionals can identify and deal with any issues that might come up in advance.
When Border Security Goes Too Far: Balancing Security with The Right to Privacy And Equal Treatment
What Should Government Border Officials Have Access To, And When Does It Get Too Much?
When you go to the border, the government can access this set of information for national security.
- Your name
- Date of birth
- Citizenship
- Address
- Mode of travel
- Purpose of travel
- Value of goods purchased abroad
Allowing access to this type of information is quite standard and necessary to keep countries safe.
Computers analyze passage records to identify individuals who have unusual travel habits. On subsequent journeys, customs authorities and law enforcement personnel may target these individuals for closer inspection.
If you're stopped for a secondary inspection or search, further information will be gathered and entered into the database. This includes the following:
- The reason for the additional screening
- The results of any search
- The border official's interview notes
- Details of any action taken
- The names of your travel companions.
We need to develop ways to enable the equal application of new technologies, such as facial recognition and fingerprint verification, across disparities in gender, age, mobility, and ethnicity, to promote the security of all travellers.
Studies from the Canadian Bar Association, the federal government, and the UN General Assembly show that these new automated AI systems can draw racist and sexist judgments, and this has far-reaching consequences in immigration scenarios. The European Union’s recently cancelled pilot project iBorderCRTL demonstrated this. A court case was filed after the AI-powered lie detector deployed at the border was extensively criticized for discriminating against people of colour, women, children, and individuals with impairments.
It's understandable why the government wants to put these technologies in place to ensure that anyone entering the country will not put Canadians in danger. But there is a fine line between protecting the public and maintaining privacy rights and constitutional protections
Meanwhile, the CBSA works with little transparency and no effective review procedures, ostensibly for national security and border control reasons. It is crucial for an oversight mechanism to be in place in instances where abuse occurs and a fair balance between privacy and security interests is not maintained.
What You Can Do to Support Afghan Refugees in Canada
Opportunities, Information, and More
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published a list of ways Canadians may help Afghan refugees following Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban.
Due to the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan, Canada has pledged to resettle 20,000 Afghans fleeing from the Taliban.
Beyond the Government’s resettlement efforts, there are many ways that everyday Canadians can support these refugees. This article will elaborate upon some of the options found in the IRCC’s official recommendations.
Volunteering and Donating
When Afghan refugees enter Canada, many will need help resettling because a good chunk of them are coming to Canada with next to nothing with them. Any help will go a long way in assisting these refugees as they rebuild and seek out safe and fulfilling lives in Canada.
You may donate funds directly or donate in-demand goods such as clothing and furniture. Don’t have anything to donate? No problem – you can also volunteer at a resettling assistance organization. Send an email to [email protected] to connect with a resettlement organization near you and make a difference! Alternatively, you can take initiative and seek out organizations ready to support these incoming refugees; click this link to find a list of local service organization for newcomers.
Sponsorship Programs
To ‘sponsor’ a refugee means to participate in a program that connects you to a particular refugee that you will then support financially and/or socially. In Canada, this is done through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program.
You can participate by connecting with an organization that is classified as a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH). Otherwise, you may form a Group of Five (G5), meaning that you and four or more other Canadian citizens join together to sponsor a refugee.
It’s worth noting that IRCC says it will prioritize family class sponsorships. This includes refugees who fall under the Spouses, Partners, and Children Program. Pay particular attention to this news if you wish to sponsor one or more of your relatives.
Special Programs
Canada is expanding its efforts to support vulnerable Afghans. In addition to the plan that prioritizes Afghans that assisted the Canadian government, a special humanitarian program aims to resettle vulnerable Afghans who do not have a reliable alternative country to move to. This may include women leaders, human rights advocates, LGBTI individuals, journalists and many more.
You do not necessarily have to live in Afghanistan to qualify. You can email IRCC for more information about these programs at [email protected].
More Information
For any additional information, you may submit your questions and concerns to the IRCC at [email protected].
If you are an Afghan temporary resident and you want to extend your stay, click here.
If you are a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident and you are currently in Afghanistan, you can obtain travel documents by emailing [email protected].
Canada to Resettle An Additional 20,000 Afghan Refugees
Interpreters, Human Rights Activists, & Journalists Among Refugees Being Resettled in Canada
News about the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has sent shockwaves around the world. Canada is stepping in and promises to accept 20,000 additional refugees fleeing Afghanistan.
Canada announced its official resettlement plan in a recent news conference held by Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino.
"Those refugees face an uncertain and volatile future in neighbouring countries, and Canada is here to help them as well," said Mendicino.
"In an initial effort to alleviate the emerging humanitarian crisis in the region, Canada will build on our earlier special immigration program to welcome over 20,000 vulnerable Afghan refugees in total."
The resettled refugees will include:
- Human rights activists
- Journalists
- Female leaders
- Persecuted minorities
- Members of the LGBT community
- Family members of former interpreters who have already fled to Canada
The resettlement will be facilitated by the United Nations along with family and private sponsorship programs.
The announcement came shortly after thousands of Afghanistan natives began fleeing the country, as the Taliban began rapidly capturing several regions, sparking concerns in the international community over fears of future violence, reprisals, and human rights abuses.
Only a few weeks ago, Canada also vowed to expedite the resettlement process for thousands of former Afghan interpreters, and their families, that had assisted Canadian officials in Afghanistan.
"The defence team remains ready to support the whole-of-government effort to get these Afghan nationals out of harm's way," said Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.
"The Canadian Armed Forces will provide additional flights as required, and DND will continue to support the vetting process and advise on contingency plans for a range of scenarios as our government monitors the evolving security situation in Afghanistan."
Since the announcement, four flights carrying Afghan refugees have arrived in Toronto.
The federal government has not yet confirmed the exact number of refugees and interpreters that have been accepted so far. However, Minister Mendicino stated that immigration officials are currently processing hundreds of applications for former interpreters, cultural advisers, drivers, and cleaners, along with others who provided Canada assistance.
Lastly, Canada is also working with Afghan officials to overcome a rule that requires anyone leaving Afghanistan to have a valid passport, as this has been a significant obstacle for many interpreters attempting to flee the country with their families.