Canada never promised permanent residency to Students and Work Permit Holders: Minister Marc Miller

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A difficult path lies ahead for students and work permit holders hoping to settle permanently in Canada. Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently emphasized that those who arrived on study or work permits were never promised automatic permanent residency (PR), and many may have to make the hard decision of returning home.

During a round table discussion with South Asian media in Surrey, Minister Miller, accompanied by Surrey Newton Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal at the Grand Taj Banquet Hall, addressed the nation’s pressing immigration issues amidst rising inflation and a housing crisis. In his opening remarks, Miller highlighted that Canada boasts one of the world’s premier immigration systems to attract and retain talent.

Miller stressed that immigration remains a significant topic for Canadians, attracting both support and scrutiny. While Canada is a top destination for many seeking a new life or refuge, he noted the need to balance the influx of temporary residents with economic opportunities for those already here.

In response to growing pressure on the Federal government due to inflation and the housing crisis, changes were made this year to the immigration programs. Along with introducing a cap on immigration targets, Canada also implemented stricter rules for international students and work permit programs.

Those with PR or who have lived in Canada for a long time welcomed the changes, hoping to alleviate pressure on housing and provide more job opportunities for Canadians. However, the new regulations have significantly impacted those waiting for their PR while on work permits or international students, particularly from India.

Miller pointed out that many unscrupulous actors had abused the immigration system by falsely promising PR after work permits. Some institutions have increased their intakes significantly to boost revenues, leading to an influx of students arriving in Canada without the necessary support systems in place. The rapid increase in international students has strained housing, healthcare, and other services. “As we work to better protect international students from bad actors and support sustainable population growth in Canada, the government introduced measures to stabilize the number of international students in Canada,” Miller stated.

He informed that the federal government is currently in discussions with provincial partners to reduce temporary residents from 7% to 5%. “That includes considering the number of international students we welcome and the number of Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) awarded. There will be adjustments and turbulence over the next few years for the international students’ program,” he noted.

The drawback will be a labor market shortage. Media representatives suggested retaining those already in Canada who are contributing to the economy, especially those who have come from difficult economic circumstances back home. Minister Miller reiterated that the purpose of study and work permits is for people to gain specific skills and education.

Miller highlighted this approach in a recent interview with Bloomberg too. Although Canada has for years used universities and colleges to bring in educated, working-age immigrants, study visas shouldn’t imply a guarantee of future residency or citizenship, he said. “That should never be the promise. People should be coming here to educate themselves and perhaps go home and bring those skills back to their country,” he said. 

Another key discussion during the conference was about people with criminal backgrounds entering Canada amidst rising cases of extortion. Minister Miller acknowledged that it is naive to assume all screenings catch every offender. “I will not speak about national security investigations publicly, as it would be irresponsible. But when someone applies for a visa, they undergo rigorous screening, including biometrics. However, some individuals still manage to enter the country and commit crimes. Despite having stringent requirements, no system is perfect.”

Miller emphasized the importance of police certificates but acknowledged their unreliability depending on the country of origin. “Well-determined actors can get around even the strictest requirements. This is a reality not only in Canada but also in the U.S. We must continually improve and adapt our methods to catch these individuals. Our primary job is to keep Canadians safe from criminality, whether homegrown or international,” he concluded.