Canada’s immigration system is under further strain after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced 3,300 job cuts under the government’s Spending Refocus Initiative. The decision has been criticized by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Canadian Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU), who fear it will leave workers in limbo and worsen the immigration backlog. is increasing.
IRCC did not say which roles would be affected, saying more details would be shared in mid-February. In a statement posted on PSAC’s website, PSAC National President Sharon D’Souza said, “These large-scale cuts will harm families and businesses that rely on critical public services and increase “This will further exacerbate the ongoing immigration crisis.” Deep cuts to public services always hit Canada’s most vulnerable people and leave thousands of workers in limbo. ”
IRCC employees process citizenship, permanent residence, and passport applications, as well as conduct interviews. Last month, immigration processing times reached a record backlog. “Families desperate to be reunited, businesses grappling with labor shortages, and health systems in desperate need of skilled workers will all suffer the consequences of this reckless decision,” said CEIU National President Rubina Boucher. ‘ he warned.
The ministry’s workforce has increased significantly in recent years, from 7,800 in 2019 to 13,092 in 2024. However, the IRCC statement said: “In October 2024, the Government of Canada announced its Immigration Levels Plan for the next three years. Decreasing immigration levels will lead to a short-term halt in population growth in order to achieve more sustainable long-term growth.” It will be.”
Unions are calling on the government to replace costly outsourcing contracts with in-house expertise to strengthen the immigration system and minimize the impact of job cuts.
These layoffs are part of broader federal budget cuts. The 2023 budget showed $15 billion in spending cuts over four years, and an additional $3 billion was announced in the fall economic report. Other ministries have also been affected, including the Canada Revenue Agency, which laid off 600 contract workers in November.
Mr. D’Souza called on the government to prioritize public services, saying, “Cuts to services aren’t just bad for workers, they impact all Canadians who rely on these services every day.”
The cuts come at a critical time, as the immigration system is already slow and struggling. Immigration officials have warned that the cuts could further slow application processing and result in longer wait times for people planning to study, work or immigrate to Canada.
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