Canada’s Immigration Department to Cut 3,300 Jobs Amid Backlog Crisis
The federal government has announced a significant workforce reduction within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), cutting 3,300 jobs over the next three years. This decision, revealed through an internal memo, is part of broader budgetary reductions across public services, aiming to address spending pressures. However, the announcement has sparked concerns about its implications for immigration processing times and backlogs.
IRCC, which had expanded its workforce by 48% since 2020 to address pandemic-related challenges and increased immigration targets, is now scaling back due to a pivot in government priorities. The hiring surge, meant to support temporary measures like fast-tracking residency applications and managing labour shortages, was largely funded by temporary budgets. With reduced funding and lower immigration targets in the 2024-2026 plan, IRCC will now adjust its staffing to align with permanent resources.
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Eighty percent of the cuts will involve temporary and contract workers, while the remaining 20% will affect full-time, permanent staff. These layoffs come amid an unprecedented backlog of more than two million applications for temporary and permanent residency, as well as citizenship—a situation critics warn will only worsen with reduced manpower.
Unions, including the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Canada Employment and Immigration Union, have decried the move as a "devastating blow" to families, businesses, and critical sectors like healthcare that rely on timely immigration processes. They argue that reducing staff in the face of mounting backlogs contradicts the government’s commitment to efficient public service.
This policy shift reflects a broader re-evaluation of immigration and public spending priorities, influenced by rising concerns over infrastructure capacity, housing availability, and the cost of living. Nonetheless, stakeholders across sectors warn that these cuts could exacerbate delays and disrupt efforts to meet Canada’s economic and demographic needs.
As the government continues to navigate these challenges, the impact on immigration services and the lives of applicants remains a critical concern. The call for sustainable solutions and enhanced efficiency within IRCC has never been more urgent.
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