Canada Accelerates CERB Application Process for Temporary Residents
Canada Accelerates CERB Application Process for Temporary Residents
The federal government recently announced it would streamline the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) application process for international students and temporary foreign requiring financial assistance during this time of uncertainty.
For those unfamiliar, the CERB provides temporary income support to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the National Post, the new measure for temporary residents was announced via a directive sent to the Employment and Social Development Canada officials in charge of reviewing and approving CERB applications.
Under this new measure, government officials will no longer be required to request that claimants provide proof of a valid work permit by email, as verbal confirmation from claimants will now be sufficient.
This applies to any CERB claimants with a “900-series” social insurance number – including international students, refugee claimants, temporary foreign workers, and executives transferred from other countries – that meet CERB requirements.
This essentially means that going forward, the government is waiving the condition that required temporary foreign residents to provide proof of a valid work permit or renewal of an expiring permit to receive CERB payments.
Prior to the measure being put in place, temporary residents were required to email Employment and Social Development Canada an image of their valid work or work/study permit, or a confirmation that they applied to renew an expired one.
The change was made in an effort to support temporary foreign workers and international students facing financial hardship during the pandemic by simplifying and accelerating the CERB application process and enabling them to stay in Canada.
Maya Dura, a spokeswoman for Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, told the National Post that by May 18, 39,319 international students had applied for CERB and 30,645 have received payments.
Dura also told the National Post that temporary residents applying for CERB “may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify their eligibility at a future date,” adding that “The Government of Canada will, whether it be in the upcoming weeks or at tax time next year, reconcile accounts and make sure people did not defraud the CERB.”
COVID-19 Amplifies The Barriers Faced By Refugee Women, But Ottawa Has Stepped Up
How Refugee Women Are Being Supported During COVID-19
The obstacles faced by female refugee claimants upon arrival and resettlement in Canada are intensified by the pandemic. Evidence suggests that refugee women can be especially vulnerable to partner violence due to the complex processes of migrating and resettling, which can include shifts in power dynamics. In addition to violence, unanticipated social and economic obstacles contribute to family conflict and stress.
Language barriers and an incomprehension of their rights often isolate refugee women, and cause them to stay in unsafe situations. According to Stats Canada, immigrants, including refugees, are almost twice as likely to worry about the possibility of violence in the home due to COVID-19 than their Canadian-born counterparts. The pandemic has resulted in a separation from loved ones across the border, severed social ties, lost employment, and health concerns. By reducing the capacity for community and increasing familial hardships, COVID-19 has intensified the risk of violence, stress, and conflict faced by female refugee claimants in Canada.
However, members of the community have stepped up to challenge these repercussions. The COVID-19 Women’s Initiative (CWI), a non-profit student-led organization, has started an awareness campaign and fundraiser for women’s resources.
“We initially started hearing about the increase in the incidence of domestic violence as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, [and] that women’s shelters were becoming overwhelmed and underfunded. (…) There was a concern that women who needed help were being turned away and potentially bound to the same home as their abuser,” explains Karlee Searle and Aman Dhaliwal, the University of Toronto students behind the organization. “As medical students, we knew that we could not be involved on the front lines, but felt a strong desire to help out in our community to address the gender disparities being exacerbated by the pandemic.”
With 300 volunteers across Canada, the CWI has currently raised $17,000 to help women’s shelters, including more than $2500 on their Ottawa-based fundraiser alone.
Another initiative is the Carty House, a local non-profit organization that “provides accommodation and material, financial, and psychological supports” for female refugee claimants in Ottawa. The Carty House is home to ten refugee women, some of whom have fled domestic violence and abuse.
“We are trying to support the women as best we can to ensure they feel safe, secure and at home,” says Louise Ebeltoft, Manager of Operations and Refugee Services at Carty House. “[The hold that the IRB has put on hearings] is very disappointing and frustrating for our residents, who were already having to deal with long wait times. [It] puts an extra burden on someone who wants to move on to starting a new life in Canada.”
Due to the financial restraints of the pandemic, the Carty House put out a call for help to the community. The response exceeded their expectations, raising $20,000 in six weeks.
In a time when so many are struggling, the communal generosity toward both COVID-19 fundraisers is notable. This pandemic has enforced the obstacles faced by refugee women, but with the community beside them, these obstacles will not be faced alone.
Sources
Sepali Guruge, Brenda Roche & Cristina Catallo, “Violence against Women: An Exploration of the Physical and Mental Health Trends among Immigrant and Refugee Women in Canada” (2012) 2012: 434592 Nursing Research & Practice at 2.
“How immigration status can affect women in situations of violence or abuse,” online: Canadian Council for Refugees <https://ccrweb.ca/en/how-immigration-status-can-affect-women-situations-violence>.
Sébastien LaRochelle-Côté & Sharanjit Uppal, “The social and economic concerns of immigrants during the
COVID-19 pandemic” (1 May 2020), online: Statcan COVID-19: Data to Insights for a Better Canada <https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2020001/article/00012-eng.pdf>.
“About Us,” online: COVID-19 Women’s Initiative<https://covidwi.com/>.
“About Us,” online: Carty House<https://cartyhouse.org/about-us/>.
Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco, “Refugee women overwhelmed by support during pandemic” (18 May 2020), online: CBC News <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/refugee-women-support-covid19-ottawa-pandemic-1.5570812?fbclid=IwAR2-rAmRQhzFFRv2fBl3ker1zZfYjBQmpYVKL-aCnrCo_aVrXHQhx2lDGEY>.
“About Us,” online: Carty House<https://cartyhouse.org/about-us/>.
Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco, “Refugee women overwhelmed by support during pandemic” (18 May 2020), online: CBC News <https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/refugee-women-support-covid19-ottawa-pandemic-1.5570812?fbclid=IwAR2-rAmRQhzFFRv2fBl3ker1zZfYjBQmpYVKL-aCnrCo_aVrXHQhx2lDGEY>.
Why We Need to Maintain Immigration Flows Despite COVID-19
The Devastating Effects That Decreased Immigration During COVID-19 Has Had on Canada
With the increased travel restrictions, immigration to Canada has drastically fallen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Border restrictions, a reduction in international flights and the closure of visa offices have all led to this drop.
Currently, immigrants whose applications and students whose study permits were issued after March 18th are unable to travel to Canada. This problem may be ongoing as many immigrant streams take years between first application and arrival. This will be compounded by high unemployment due to the pandemic reducing incentives for immigrants to come to Canada.
The Federal government’s goal of bringing in 341,000 permanent residents in 2020 will be impossible to reach, as the Royal Bank of Canada expects only 160,000 permanent residents to enter the country in 2020.
The Economic Impact of Reduced Immigration
This decrease in immigration will have far reaching effects. For one, it means a cut to our workforce. Andrew Agoposwicz, a senior economist at RBC stated that “almost two-thirds of immigrants are in the prime working ages” and that “Canada will need a younger and growing population” to get out of the financial deficit from this crisis.
The urban housing market may also be affected, as much of their growth is due to immigrant populations, and many born in Canada are moving to more affordable areas outside of cities.
With the lack of international students, Canada will receive a cut to its future workforce, which will cost the economy at least $6 billion in revenue. Universities have also grown dependent on tuitions paid by international students. For the University of Toronto, if only one-fifth of foreign students do not arrive for the 2020 fall semester, it will be a loss of $200 million for the university.
The reduced spending on goods and services will also provide a major dent in our economy. Canadian Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino, stated that with reduced immigration flows Canada might have a harder time recovering economically from the pandemic than “some of its other G7 counterparts.”
How Canada's Agriculture Industry is Being Affected
Another industry that has taken a big hit due to decreased immigration is Canada’s agricultural industry. This is an industry that is already struggling with labour shortages. These shortages have been primarily dealt with through Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which allows migrants to have temporary residence in Canada in order to fill jobs in industries with labour shortages.
Temporary Foreign Workers are exempt from the travel ban, but arrivals have still fallen 35% in March. Some products, like the production of honey, require specialized knowledge that many Canadians do not have. The Federal Government tried to implement measures to encourage Temporary Foreign Workers to come to Canada during the pandemic, like providing money to cover quarantine costs and easing visa renewals, but these measures have not helped.
One major reason why it is so hard to attract Temporary Foreign Workers during this time is because of the dire conditions they work under, which severely increase their risk of contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic. These workers are extremely marginalized and often work jobs with low wages. Employee rights violations are widespread and there is little enforcement or inspections of workplaces that use such workers.
They are also not often eligible for the same immigration options available to those in skilled occupations. This means that although they spend much of their lives in Canada, they do not have a route towards permanent residency. The pandemic has exasperated these conditions. Migrant workers do not have the option of not working if they feel sick or find work conditions unsafe. They have no access to other forms of income support and will be deported if they do not work.
They also often live and work in cramped conditions putting them at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Some of the largest workplace outbreaks have been in places staffed by migrant workers. One such example is Alberta’s Cargill slaughterhouse, where nearly 950 workers were infected and one woman died.
Steps Canada Can Take Towards Recovery
Canada can increase the number of people willing to enter the Temporary Foreign Worker program by improving conditions and protecting them from health risks. Migrante Alberta has been petitioning the Alberta government to offer free healthcare for migrant workers. This along with increased protections for workers and sick leave is needed to protect this workforce.
The Canadian government has said that it has already strengthened the requirements for employers hiring Temporary Foreign workers and that it will punish employers who do not follow COVID-19 regulations, but more enforcement is needed.
In an article with The Chronicle Herald, Bill Black sets out four crucial steps to help deal with the decrease in immigration. The first of these is to make a plan to deal with international students, including testing and resuming the processing of student visas as soon as possible. The second step is to open travel to immigrants and students who are approved after March 18. The third step is to use the Trump administration’s hostility towards immigrants to help attract new employers. The fourth step is to continue supporting employers in attracting international workers.
Sources
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/stalling-immigration-may-add-canadas-152334227.html
https://theconversation.com/the-coronavirus-reveals-the-necessity-of-canadas-migrant-workers-136360
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/immigration-canada-pandemic-economy_ca_5ed27178c5b65b7d81e50e08
Canada Launches Long-Awaited Agri-Food Immigration Pilot
New Immigration Pilot Accepting Applications After COVID-19 Delays
In an effort to help fill labour shortages in Canada’s food and agriculture sectors, the federal government has announced the launch of the long-awaited Agri-Food Immigration Pilot.
The program – which provides temporary foreign workers with work experience in the agri-food industry along with the ability to obtain permanent residence in Canada – is already accepting applications as of May 15, in hopes of attracting workers to the meat processing, mushroom and greenhouse production, and livestock-raising industries.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is also allowing temporary visa holders who are in Canada working in the sector to apply for permanent residence under the new pilot.
In total, the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot will accept up to 2,750 principal applicants plus their family members every year until 2023.
Those accepted will be able to live and work in any Canadian province except for Quebec, which has its own immigration system. However, Quebec employers will still be able to take part in the pilot through the two-year Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) as long as their workers’ National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes are eligible. The Quebec workers will then be able to apply for permanent residence in Quebec through the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ).
The occupations and industries included in the pilot are:
- Meat product manufacturing including retail and industrial butchers, farm supervisors, and specialized livestock workers
- Food processing labourers including greenhouse, nursery, mushroom, and floriculture production
- Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
- General farmworkers
- Harvesting labourers.
- Animal production (excluding aquaculture) but including farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
- General farmworkers
The pilot has been a long-time coming, as many Canadian agri-food employers have been calling on the federal government to help them recruit and retain the foreign workers to fill widespread labour shortages. In fact, the pilot had been intended to launch at the end of March but was delayed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and resulting travel restrictions.
“Attracting and retaining talented workers is essential to help grow our economy and improve the living standards of all Canadians,” said Marco Mendicino, Canada’s minister of immigration, in an IRCC press release. “The Agri-Food Pilot will attract applicants for permanent residence who have worked in Canada, who can economically establish in Canada, and who support the labour needs of farmers and processors.”
Canada Implements More Flexible Study Permit Rules for Fall 2020
Canada Allows International Students to Complete 50 Per Cent of Studies Online Due to COVID-19
As Canada’s immigration system continues to adapt to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, the federal government has announced new, more flexible policies regarding work and study permits.
As announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on May 14, study permit holders hoping to study in Canada this fall will be able to begin their studies while living abroad. They will also be able to complete up to 50% of their program through online studies while still being eligible to apply for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWC) after graduation.
Furthermore, IRCC has announced that until December 31, 2020, international students will not have any time deducted from their PGWP for the period they had to spend outside of Canada due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
This means that international students can begin their studies online this fall while living outside of Canada and still being eligible for a PGWP for up to three years after completing their studies. The only stipulations are that they must arrive in Canada by the end of 2020 and meet the requirements for their study permit by participating in a post-secondary program that lasts for at least two years.
A significant benefit to this change is that International students will be able to reduce their living expenses, as a portion of their studies will take place at home without the need to travel or pay for an apartment.
The Benefits of This Change
This new policy change will help Canada’s post-secondary institutions immensely along with the international students who contribute on average $21.6 billion to Canada’s GDP and support nearly 170,000 jobs.
International students are incredibly valuable to the Canadian economy as they often eventually become permanent residents of Canada, with nearly 54,000 former students accepted for permanent residency in 2018.
In fact, Under Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), applicants that studied in Canada with a study permit are given additional CRS points for their Canadian education and work experience. There are also several Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams designed to help former international students transition to permanent residence.
Therefore, this announcement is wonderful news for both Canada’s post-secondary institutions and incoming international students, as it encourages more students to move forward with their studies rather than deferring their education until next year.