Ottawa is initiating reforms to its asylum process and seeking to eliminate an immigration fraud that has seen individuals pressure job seekers to pay exorbitant fees to gain employment in Canada. Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated on Monday his aim is to decrease the allure of paying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a requirement demonstrating the need for temporary foreign workers before they can come to Canada.

Miller pointed out the excessive payments linked to the LMIA process, stating that it should not be so lucrative. Reports have surfaced on social media about individuals in India paying for job-related LMIAs, prompting legitimate immigration professionals to urge action against those unlawfully profiting from the system. Once employers secure an LMIA, foreign workers seeking permanent residency can apply for a work permit; securing an LMIA currently adds 50 points to their residency application, a situation that Miller believes leads to unethical practices.

In addition to these LMIA reforms, Miller is set to present further changes to the asylum system. Lawmakers have raised concerns regarding the rising number of asylum claims from individuals with expired visas; while he noted most transient visitors do depart, a notable increase in international students filing for asylum has been recorded, often with little chance of success. He underscored that temporary residency should have genuine implications, reiterating that gaining permanent status or citizenship is not automatically guaranteed.

Currently, almost four years is needed to process asylum claims, presenting significant backlog issues. Miller expressed his intent to improve a system that is currently ineffective, acknowledging the rising claims from individuals who, feeling hopeless about their chances to stay, are incorrectly advised to seek asylum.

Past efforts to tighten asylum regulations and expedite refugee claim processing were rejected by MPs from the NDP and Bloc Québécois. Additionally, Miller addressed inquiries regarding assistance for the families of Lebanese Canadians caught in conflict, stating the government's priority remains aiding the larger group of Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Lebanon and emphasizing that a cessation of hostilities is the best path forward.

Moreover, Ottawa aims to revert immigration numbers to levels seen before the pandemic as part of a broader strategy to ease housing pressures and service demands. This represented a significant shift in policy from the government. Conversely, advocates for migrants have argued against these cuts, claiming it is unjust to link the housing crisis to immigration, with representatives from the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change stressing that migrants are being unfairly blamed.