The system that was once the foundational building block of our country is broken. Pictured: Immigration Minister Marc Miller. Photo Credit: Marc Miller/X.
Canada was built on the hopes and dreams of immigrants striving for a better life for themselves and their children. It is a story ingrained in the fabric of our DNA as Canadians, and it binds together the distinct regions of our country from east to west.
Whether fleeing poverty or war, most families still reminisce over the stories of relatives who came to Canada with a few bucks in their pocket and a desire to work hard to get ahead. The sentiment, along with hope and a little bit of luck made getting ahead an entirely attainable goal.
It’s important to remember the core tenants of Canada’s immigration system were built on compassion and fairness. It was a point of pride for many, and because of this foundation, political leaders had the wiggle room and political capital to support humanitarian efforts and open our doors when others were shuttering them.
Take for example one of the first acts of a newly elected Trudeau government in 2015. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeted families at Pearson Airport, welcoming them into the country amid a backdrop of angry, anti-refugee rhetoric in the United States and a humanitarian crisis that had Syrians desperately seeking asylum in the western world.
Trudeau announced that Canada would take in 25,000 Syrian refugees. This news made international headlines, and Trudeau rode a wave of good faith from Canadians who supported these efforts.
There is no starker visual contrast than the 2015 photo of Trudeau hugging a young Syrian girl who just arrived in Canada versus the situation we find ourselves in today. While the push by the government to meet the labour challenges posed by an aging population has been a stop gap for short term challenges, the record population growth experience over the last several years has left huge strains on social services, infrastructure, healthcare and housing.
Notably, the United Nations released a report this week calling Canada’s temporary foreign workers program a “breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery,” stemming from abuse, low pay and exploitation. Our reliance on cheap labour is also taking away the opportunity for young people to find their first jobs in sectors where they would traditionally get a leg up, like hospitality and the restaurant sector.
The system that was once the foundational building block of our country is broken. There are no two ways about it. And while a series of band aid solutions have been deployed by the federal government to stem the bleeding, including a cap on international students, this is nowhere near the fix needed.
Now is the time for serious policy reform, including making changes to the temporary foreign worker program to prevent abuse and ensure those who are entering through this stream have an opportunity at the same kind of prosperity that was a guarantee for many decades.
We must also ensure that housing supply is accurately matched to immigration targets. With home ownership out of reach for so many, and sky-high rents in most cities eating up a larger percentage of the average paycheque, it’s tough to expect those immigrating to Canada to be able to afford even a basic standard of living.
There is still hope that our country can once again have an immigration system that is the envy of the world. We can and should demand that policy failures be rectified, because the alternative is a bleak future that diminishes a system that has been a point of pride for decades.
Josie Sabatino is a Senior Consultant at Summa Strategies, focused on providing strategic insight and helping clients meet their objectives in an ever changing and complex political and regulatory environment. Prior to joining Summa, Josie spent nearly a decade in political communications and most recently served as the Director of Communications to the Hon. Erin O’Toole, former Leader of the Official Opposition.
