18 December 2024
On December 17, 2024, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announced significant reforms to Canada’s immigration system.
1.Ending ‘Flagpoling’ to Streamline Border Operation
One of the major reforms involves the elimination of ‘flagpoling,’ a practice where temporary residents leave Canada and re-enter through a port of entry to access immigration services more quickly.
According to Miller, flagpoling consumes valuable border resources, hinders critical enforcement activities, and disrupts cross-border traffic.
Moving forward, temporary residents will need to apply online to extend their stay in Canada, thereby reducing unnecessary strain on border officers and ensuring that resources are allocated effectively.
2.Strengthening Control Over Immigration Document
To enhance the integrity of the Canadian immigration system, the government has proposed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
These changes would grant IRCC greater authority to:
Cancel, suspend, or modify immigration documents, such as visas, in cases of fraud or security risks.
Suspend or stop accepting applications in situations deemed to be in the public interest, such as large-scale fraud attempts.
By introducing these measures, Canada aims to prevent individuals who may pose risks from entering the country and to safeguard public resources more effectively.
3.Addressing LMIA Fraud and Express Entry Integri
The government is introducing reforms to the Express Entry system to reduce fraud and ensure fairness and creditability.
Specifically, additional points for job offers under Express Entry will be removed, reducing the incentive for individuals to exploit the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process.