Immigration Minister Marc Miller says cabinet is prepared to allow illegal immigrants to remain in Canada if they work in construction.
The proposal expands a temporary program targeting home builders in the Greater Toronto Area.
“These undocumented migrants are already living and working in Canada and are contributing to the sector,” reasoned Miller in a statement, per Blacklock’s Reporter.
“This pathway will keep them here legally so they can continue to build the homes our economy and communities need,” he wrote.
A Temporary Public Policy For Out-Of-Status Construction Workers introduced during the pandemic has granted permits to 1,365 labourers and tradespeople to date and will be expanded.
Miller said he’ll ask builders to “assess needs in the industry” and draft “a regularization pathway for out of status construction workers.”
“To meet the growing demand for housing, Canada needs a strong construction and skilled trades workforce and immigrants play a vital role in fulfilling these needs,” said Miller.
He did not detail any legal text of proposed regulations.
Miller’s department in an April 24 briefing note suggested it find ways to “regularize those without immigration status” instead of deporting them.
“There are no accurate figures representing the number or composition of undocumented immigrants residing in Canada,” said the note on undocumented migrants.
“Estimates suggest the population could be a high as 500,000.”
The 500,000 figure included foreign visitors whose tourist visas had expired, and foreign students whose study permits were invalid.
“The majority become undocumented by falling out of status when they cannot meet eligibility criteria for existing immigration programs after lawfully entering Canada and have overstayed their authorized period of stay,” said the briefing note.
“Only a small portion of undocumented migrants are thought to have unlawfully entered or were trafficked or smuggled into Canada.”
Miller has made contradictory statements on immigration policy over the past year. In a broadcast interview last March 27, he told US National Public Radio: “There is no doubt that we have made a conscious decision to be an open country.”
However Miller told reporters on January 15 that illegal immigrants were not welcome.
“Those folks are not welcome to Canada if they are doing so in an irregular fashion,” he said.