Labour shortage not helping Canada’s recovery from COVID-19
A recent CIC News report showed that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is facing a backlog of almost 1.8 million immigration applications. As of October 27, this number included more than 500,000 permanent residence applications; 776,000 temporary residence applications; and more than 460,000 citizenship applications.
An IRCC spokesperson stated that the “ongoing international travel restrictions, border restrictions, limited operational capacity overseas and the inability on the part of clients to obtain documentation due to the effects of COVID-19 have created barriers within the processing continuum. This hinders IRCC’s ability to finalize applications, creating delays that are outside IRCC’s control.”
Not only is this situation frustrating for the people waiting for their applications to be processed, but it is also creating a ripple effect that can be seen across Canada’s economy. As a country that is reliant on immigrant work, Canada is facing a labour shortage while attempting to recuperate from the pandemic.
Not only are immigrants bringing desirable skills and willing to work, but they are also rejuvenating the Canadian workforce. As it stands, 60 per cent of Canada’s immigrants are between 20 and 39 years old. However, IRCC is failing to keep up with demand. Since January 2021, there have been 337,000 permanent residence applications and 134,000 Canadian citizenship applications processed. Although the IRCC is trying to process applications quickly, it is unlikely that more than 401,000 individuals will receive permanent resident status by the end of the year.
To help speed up the process, IRCC recently announced that they will be accepting online applications to request proof of citizenship and search of citizenship records. This system will enable applicants to request replacement citizenship proof that does not require changes to the information on the certificate, submitting claims for proof of citizenship by descent, or requesting a search of citizenship records.
