Canada’s immigration cuts could hurt Ja

The Canadian government’s recent decision to reduce immigration and temporary foreign worker approvals is expected to have significant economic impacts for many Jamaicans, according to an experienced immigration attorney.

On Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that his government will scale back the number of new immigrants allowed into the country, in response to criticism over unbalanced post-COVID-19 pandemic immigration policies.

Originally planning to admit 500,000 new permanent residents annually over the next two years, Trudeau now targets 395,000 in 2025, with further reductions to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.

Jamaican-American immigration attorney Dahlia Walker-Huntington explained that the new restrictions could strain Jamaica’s economy because of the financial interdependence between the diaspora and families back home.

“Our economy is so tied to the diaspora. It will have a macro impact depending on how big it is and it will certainly have a micro impact because there are families whose financial existence is tied to their family overseas,” she told The Gleaner.

“Families who rely on income from abroad may face hardships if immigration policies limit work opportunities for Jamaicans abroad.”

Walker-Huntington cited as an example the annual farm work programme, where Jamaicans travel to Canada for several months and remit earnings to support their families back home.

“If those opportunities decrease, it will have a direct impact on their families’ ability to cover essential costs like rent and school fees,” she added.

‘STRICTER RULES’

In a series of posts on X, Trudeau stated that Canada plans to decrease its intake of temporary foreign workers, emphasising stricter requirements for companies to hire Canadian workers before considering foreign applicants.

“This pause is intended to manage population growth and give the economy time to stabilise,” he said.

“We’re bringing in stricter rules for companies to prove why they can’t hire Canadian workers first.”

With immigration responsible for nearly 98 per cent of Canada’s recent population growth, the government expects these reductions to ease pressure on the housing market, aiming to close the housing supply gap by approximately 670,000 units by 2027.

In recent years, Jamaica has seen thousands of its professionals, particularly those in technical fields, relocate to Canada. According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, over 4,300 Jamaicans were granted permanent resident status in Canada last year, with 78 per cent of them between the ages of 15 and 64. However, changes to the programme may shift these statistics.

Additionally, compliance measures for Canada’s temporary foreign work programme were tightened last month. Employers may now hire no more than 10 per cent of their workforce through the low-wage stream, with the maximum employment duration for these workers reduced from two years to one. This cap, however, excludes seasonal and non-seasonal roles in food security, healthcare, and construction sectors.

IMPACT ON REMITTANCES

As a result, families across Jamaica who rely on remittances may feel the impact in the coming years. Canada-based Jamaican farm workers are a major source of these remittances, and, with fewer opportunities available, Jamaica may experience a drop in these critical income sources.

Remittances from Canada to Jamaica play a vital role in supporting families and bolstering the Jamaican economy. In 2022, total remittances to Jamaica reached approximately US$3.6 billion, with Canada consistently ranking among the top five contributing countries, alongside the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Cayman Islands.

While specific figures for Canada are often aggregated with those from other nations, remittances from Canada typically account for about 10-12 per cent of Jamaica’s overall remittance inflow, driven largely by Jamaican seasonal and temporary workers who send earnings back home.

The contribution of Jamaican farm workers in Canada is particularly noteworthy. Around 15,000 of these workers remit funds biweekly, significantly impacting Jamaican households.

For many Jamaicans who have historically looked to Canada for work opportunities, the new policy could reshape the future of overseas employment.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com