Mendicino Confirms Canada Has No Plans to Follow Trump’s Lead by Suspending Visas
The global COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, but Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marco Mendicino, is preparing to welcome newcomers with open arms.
In a recent television interview with CTV News, Mendicino responded to reports that the United States had suspended all temporary resident visas, with a simple message: “Come to Canada,” he said.
The Executive Order in question signed by President Donald Trump bars new green card holders and temporary foreign workers from coming to the U.S. in 2020.
In stark contrast to Trump’s anti-immigration stance in the wake of the global pandemic, Mendicino has consistently maintained that Canada will remain committed to welcoming immigrants, temporary foreign workers, and international students. The hope is that immigration will help boost Canada’s economy, which has taken a serious hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In fact, when asked by CTV for his opinion on the recent visa suspension in the U.S., Mendicino said that that the U.S’ loss is Canada’s gain and will “spring Canada’s economic recovery.”
“We have a plan in place that looks to leverage the best and the brightest from around the world,” he said. “We’ve got pathways like the Express Entry program, and the Global Talent Stream, which will help to bring entrepreneurs, engineers, and innovators. We’ve also got pathways for manual laborers and skilled laborers.”
Before a global pandemic was declared, back in 2019, Canada had pledged to welcome 341,000 new permanent residents in 2020. This target does not include temporary foreign workers and international students.
Unfortunately, due to travel restrictions put in place by the federal government back in March, it doesn’t appear likely that Canada will be able to meet its initial target.
Despite certain exceptions put in place for family members, temporary foreign workers, and certain asylum seekers, it’s estimated that Canada will welcome 170,000 fewer immigrants this year than anticipated if the travel restrictions are not lifted by the end of the summer.
However, with travel restrictions and other COVID-19 measures starting to loosen, plus Trump’s recent immigration ban, Canada may just see an influx in immigration applications in the next few months. Especially considering the Liberal government’s track record for welcoming newcomers and prioritizing immigration.
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Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.