The immigration procedure of Canada is going to be decided by two factors. One is the ability of the country to defeat COVID-19. The other is whether or not a federal election will be held in the maple country.
Two main concerns will confirm the path of Canadian immigration for the rest of the year. The capacity of Canada to withstand and eventually get through the pandemic, as well as if Prime Minister of the country Justin Trudeau might conduct an election by the fall. Here is a preview of what we can expect from the expert.
In Canada, Covid-19
COVID-19 has had an impact on their immigration policy from March 2020. COVID-related disturbances are a clear determinant of any policy decision. In the midst of the pandemic, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented a series of legislative reforms and new measures to help the nation achieve its immigration goals to the best of its capacity.
In the last few months, cases of corona have been increasing across Canada. The third wave of Covid-19 has culminated in fresh lockdowns in two of the largest provinces of Canada-Quebec, and Ontario, as well as Alberta, the fourth-largest province.
Fortunately, things got improved in the last few weeks. COVID has a new look. After seeing 10,000 daily cases in the middle of April 19, cases are now trending down across Canada. The vaccine program of the country is starting to gain traction. Thanks to the strict public health steps.
About 20 million vaccine doses have now been distributed throughout Canada. Around 40 percent of the population of Canada has been vaccinated with the first shot, and Canada stands among the top five OECD countries with the United Kingdom, Israel, Chile, and the United States.
By the end of June, Canada expects to obtain an additional 20 million doses, and several federal and provincial political leaders have expressed optimism that the nation will return to normalcy this summer.
The willingness of Canada to return to normalcy will have an effect on the immigration numbers. The public health and safety agencies and the IRCC should make a more comprehensive plan for accepting more newcomers from other countries.
Is Trudeau going to conduct an election?
According to several press accounts, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reportedly thinking about conducting a federal election in the latter half of 2021. And if the vaccine campaign is successful and Canada defeats the pandemic, Trudeau will gain better public support, propelling him to a third consecutive victory. Trudeau secured a majority government in 2015. However, only a minority government in 2019, as popular support for him dwindled. But polls suggest that he continues to be the most popular and able leader of the country, which he is able to achieve a majority this time.
The last two elections took place in October, late in the summer. Cabinet appointments were made around December, and the governance of the new government began in January. Because of the value of the winter holidays in Canada, election campaigns never happen during the holidays. As a result, Trudeau is expected to call a general election, latest by the month of September.
The announcement of an election would almost definitely have an effect on immigration in Canada. The immigration levels program of the country, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Express Entry, and few other broad policy items, on the other hand, will not be affected. Also, the implementation of new policies and programs, the responsiveness of the government to new issues would remain limited till the determination of election results.
What’s next?
The effectiveness of Canada’s vaccination program in the coming months will determine if it is able to ease travel restrictions and enable more people to obtain Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
COPRs are people from other countries who have been granted permanent residency but are currently unable to enter Canada unless they qualify for an exemption. It is not mandatory to submit your application if you have submitted it one time. When the pandemic gets over, they can reach Canada.
According to recent reports, the United States leads Canada in reopening terms. However, if Canada can do so quickly, further travel between the United States and Canada will be possible by the summer. If this occurs, the government will lift the travel restrictions for visitors from other countries.
The COVID-19 situation in Canada would also have an effect on who gets preference in Express Entry draws. Initially, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Provincial Nominated Program (PNP) only considered candidates for the pandemic. In the latter half of 2020, it found all the applicants, including the ones in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
The consideration of CEC and PNP candidates took place from the start of this year. The IRCC states that it wants to prioritize the transition of Canadian residents to a permanent residence because they are less affected by COVID-related issues. However, once the pandemic is under control, IRCC will consider FSWP and FSTP candidates. Therefore, there is a possibility that all-program Express Entry draws would be held in the second half of 2021.
The Immigration and Refugee Commission (IRCC) recently explained why it implemented a temporary public policy of six new immigration services for important jobs and foreign graduates. In a single day, the anglophone International Graduate stream receives 40,000 applications. Unsurprisingly, enrollment in the important work and francophone sources has been lower. However, we can anticipate an increase in those sources in the coming months.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Immigration, Marco Mendicino, has stated unequivocally that the IRCC is open to raising the caps for these fields. As a result, it will primarily favour Anglophone foreign graduates. According to the minister, this will be dependent on a number of variables, including the quantity and nature of the applications. Without a doubt, this decision would have an effect on the willingness of the country to remove COPR travel restrictions in the future. The longer the limits remain in effect, the more likely it is that the IRCC will consider raising the quotas for these six new systems. The Municipal Nominee Program (MNP), fee waivers for Canadian citizenship applicants, and the Parents and Grandparents Program are all items to keep an eye out for.
Mendicino calls for the launch of the MNP in his authorized letter, which makes citizenship applications available at no cost. However, the pandemic has delayed these initiatives. IRCC would also announce details about the PGP 2021 opening, which will follow the same format as the PGP 2020. Finally, the declaration of the next level’s strategy should be fairly normal. Canada would almost certainly stick to its goal of welcoming over 400,000 new immigrants each year.
