Status For All Now! Reject "Broad and Comprehensive Program" for Some Only!
"Ottawa is preparing to create a path to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of people who have lived and worked in Canada" for years, starting with construction workers, a December 14 article in the Globe and Mail reads.[1]
The article reports that Immigration Minister Marc Miller is preparing a "broad and comprehensive program" for certain undocumented workers and their families to apply for permanent residency. Amongst those included, the article notes, are "people who entered the country legally, as temporary workers or international students, and then remained here after their visas expired."
We also learn that he plans to present a proposal to Cabinet this spring so that those selected can "regularize their status." The Minister stated that the policy could face opposition.
In Miller's estimation, there are anywhere from 300,000 to 600,000 people living in Canada without what official Canada considers "valid documents." As a result, many who have worked here for decades and with children, face the daily threat of deportation.
Before presenting his proposal to Cabinet, the Minister wants to "test the narrative." He plans to introduce, in the very near future, a program enabling undocumented construction workers living in Canada to apply for residency. This is to help the country's "shortage of skilled workers able to build homes," he says.
"These are people that are already here, already contributing and have kids," he says. In his view, it "makes absolutely no sense" that people who have been here for decades and have children have not been able to obtain legal status. Where have the Liberals -- who have been in power these past eight and more years -- been hiding then, Minister?
Miller said too that Canada's immigration policy needs refining and "tailoring to the reality on the ground." Under the guise of bolstering the integrity of Canada's immigration program, the minister is planning other reforms, including changes to temporary foreign worker and international student programs. He is also looking at "adjusting our public policies to make sure we're being smart about the type of people coming to this country, and what they can contribute."
In areas such as construction and health care, Miller said that immigrants are indispensable. "But again, we just have to be a little more careful in how we are in our tailoring these policies to the reality on the ground."
"The conversation on regularizing people that are here, and by my estimation -- my belief -- should be Canadian, is not one that's unanimous in the country." Miller said. "We have to have a greater conversation as a country about that," he added. In this manner the government wants to normalize its ability to decide who is and who is not “Canadian,” and justify punishing those it decides are not. This is already evident in how Palestinians seeking asylum are being treated, with very few even allowed to apply and answers to questions like whether they have “bodily scars” used to decide they cannot seek asylum. Further, such impunity concerning who “should be Canadian,” can be extended far beyond refugees and immigrants.
On the need for a conversation on these matters, we could not agree more. What we mean, however, is that Canadians themselves must appropriate that conversation, by way of a cross-Canada informed discussion. Such a discussion would involve those working in defence of human rights and with undocumented migrant workers and their families, along with academics and experts advocating on their behalf and all concerned about rights and justice.
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 14 - February 28, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54148.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca