Canada Is Cutting 1 in 4 Jobs At Immigration Dept. It’s About Real Estate

The Canadian government is planning to cut approximately 3,300 positions from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), representing about 25% of the department's workforce. This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce federal spending.

The IRCC currently employs around 13,100 individuals. The planned reductions will be achieved by not filling future roles and reducing temporary staff, accounting for 80% of the cuts. The remaining 20% will come from direct layoffs.

These staff reductions are expected to exacerbate existing challenges within the department. The IRCC is already facing a backlog of over 2 million applications, with nearly half exceeding standard processing times. For instance, the Start-Up Visa program now has an estimated processing time of nearly four years, compared to six months for a similar program in the United States.

The Canadian Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) has expressed concern over the potential impact of these cuts. CEIU President Rubina Boucher stated that longer wait times could affect families seeking reunification, businesses dealing with labor shortages, and the healthcare system's need for skilled workers.

This decision aligns with the federal government's initiative to find $15.8 billion in savings by 2027, with an additional $4.8 billion in annual reductions thereafter. Initially, the focus was on cutting non-essential travel and reducing excess office space. However, the strategy has shifted towards maintaining real estate values by encouraging in-office work and reducing the workforce.

Critics argue that these cuts may lead to increased reliance on outsourcing and could further strain an already overburdened immigration system. The long-term effects on Canada's immigration goals and public services remain uncertain.