Punjabis’ PR dreams bruised as Canada cuts intake numbers
Punjabis’ dream for a home in their favourite overseas destination, Canada, has been jolted with the 20 per cent cut by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in the number of Permanent Residents’ (PR) applications to be accepted in 2025.
Slashed by 20%
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that the intake of immigrants will be reduced from 5 lakh to 3.95 lakh in 2025.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that the Canadian intake of immigrants will be reduced from five lakh to 3.95 lakh in 2025.
A cross section of consultants told The Tribune that the situation was the result of an “absolutely mismanaged affair by the Canadian government in showing dreams to outsiders and upsetting the local population”.
Chandigarh-based leading immigration lawyer RP Singh said, “Besides uncontrolled rush of students, a sizable number of entrants reached Canada with the labour market impact assessment (LMIA), a document that allowed them to work there. Very few managed to get PR, which they were promised by the agents. Now with elections due in 2025, citizens are questioning the government failure in providing jobs, particularly to the locals, besides not solving the housing problem.”
The latest Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Report (CMHC) said the country needed 3.5 million home units to restore housing affordability by 2030. There was 47 per cent increase in students’ rush to Canada in 2022. Out of total 3.19 lakh, nearly 50 per cent were said to be Punjabis.
Out of total 4.33 lakh persons allowed PR in 2021, Indians topped the IRCC list with 1.38 lakh. The Indians’ number was 1.22 lakh out of total 4.52 lakh in 2022, 1.38 lakh out of 4.75 lakh in 2023 and 84,000 out of 3.11 lakh till July this year. Sources said Punjabis topped the list of Indians. The number of HP and Haryana residents also went up sizably over the past few years.
Director of Sunrise Immigration Consultants Kuldeep Singh said, “Canada has been the biggest destination for immigration over the past 29 years for which I have been in the profession. Canada is the second home to Punjabis. There has been a reduction in the number of student visa seekers during the recent times because of stricter Canadian norms. This will have an impact on the number of PR seekers.”
The IRCC has said the total immigrant acceptance will be reduced to 3.80 lakh in 2026 and 3.65 lakh in 2027. The total immigration allowed this year has been 4.85 lakh till July-end.
