Statistics Canada reported a 46 percent surge in temporary residents during this period, heightening concerns about potential exploitation and subpar living conditions.
Statistics Canada reported a 46 percent surge in temporary residents during this period, heightening concerns about potential exploitation and subpar living conditions.
Canada’s population increase of over one million residents between July 2022 and July 2023 has raised ethical concerns about the country’s immigration policies. This is in light of Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s recent reference to international students as “an asset that is very lucrative” during a parliamentary session.
The statement, which sparked controversy, reportedly contradicts Miller’s earlier focus on newcomer well-being, prompting questions about the government’s immigration motives.
Statistics Canada reported a 46 percent surge in temporary residents during this period, heightening concerns about potential exploitation and subpar living conditions.
Now, Canada’s treatment of temporary residents faces scrutiny due to reports of exploitative work conditions, inadequate wages, and substandard living conditions. The UN special rapporteur on modern slavery criticized Canada’s temporary foreign worker program as a “breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery,” citing issues such as unsanitary living conditions, wage theft, and limited healthcare access.
Calls for reform
A Senate report has urged a comprehensive reconsideration of the temporary foreign worker program, acknowledging the necessity for significant reforms following extensive investigation.
In parallel, another report by Senators Sabi Marwah, Ratna Omidvar, Hassan Yussuff, and Yuen Pau Woo highlighted that international students are frequently misled by paid education consultants regarding the pathway to permanent residency, facing misleading assurances from Canadian colleges.
Rise in suicide rates
Tragically, the repercussions of these issues go beyond exploitation, with international students facing an alarming rise in suicides due to dismal living conditions and unfulfilled expectations. However, Canada lacks a comprehensive tracking system for international student deaths, raising concerns about accountability and even proper tracking of their presence in the country.
Critics contend that the present situation stems directly from the Liberal government’s eagerness to increase immigration without a sustainable plan since 2015.
The report by Senators Marwah, Omidvar, Yussuff, and Woo accuses the federal government of “perpetuating an inflated sense of hope” by not offering clear information to prospective students regarding the challenges of attaining permanent resident status.
