A Message From Our President

With 2024 winding down, it’s a time for us to look back at the year that was and look forward to the upcoming year. They say the only constant in life is change, and that is definitely the case when looking at the topic of Canadian immigration programs and policies. Recently, the Canadian government adjusted its immigration targets back down to be more consistent with pre-Covid levels, introducing new programs while changing or halting some existing programs -  often with little or no notice.

While change is inevitable, the Solutions Immigration team will never alter our mindset of providing our valued clients with honest, diligent assistance in the pursuit of their immigration goals.  With all the changes, we understand that our clients count on Solutions to assist them in navigating the confusing world of immigrating to Canada, and it is a role we embrace.  Since 1997, after 30 years working in immigration with the Federal government, my father started Solutions Immigration with the goal of assisting people to come to Canada.  In addition to the thousands of clients we’ve assisted over the last 27 years, we look forward to helping many, many more individuals and families in 2025.

I wish you all a fantastic holiday season and hope that 2025 is a year full of health and happiness for you and your family.  On behalf of my father, Sol Gombinsky, myself, and the rest of our dedicated team at Solutions, we wish you a very Happy New Year!

Cari Gombinsky

New Canadian Immigration Target Levels

This fall, Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) tabled the Immigration Levels Plan setting out the immigration targets for Canada for the next three years.  In this Plan, the previously stated target of 500,000 Permanent Resident (PR) admissions in 2025 was reduced to 395,000. While the downward trend is significant, it is important to remember that the numbers still remain higher than pre-pandemic immigration levels.

The IRCC also decided to focus on levels of Temporary Visas issued and, for the first time, established target levels for temporary residents. The Minister stated that it is the government’s aim to reduce the number of non-Permanent Residents in the country to five percent of the total Canadian population.  One of the ways identified to reduce the current level of temporary residents, while still meeting PR objectives, is to focus on Permanent Residence Pathways for those already in Canada. Minister Miller has stated that forty per cent of all new permanent residents next year will come from temporary residents who are already in Canada.

While the reduction of immigration targets was designed to address issues such as housing shortages and labour market needs, some believe that these benefits will be offset by other factors. According to Rachel Battaglia of the Royal Bank, the resulting decrease in population growth will lower demand and “leave the unemployment rate unchanged”.  In addition, Ms. Battaglia is of the view that “significantly reduced population growth will also weigh on government balance sheets as an accelerated aging population puts upward pressure on healthcare costs and pension obligations”.

New Federal Pathways for Permanent Residency

Several new pathways to Permanent Residency are expected to launch in 2025. Programs being introduced by the government include:

_{· - The Rural Community Immigration Pilot}

_{· - The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot}

These pilot programs, which are based on the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, are aimed at helping employers across Canada (excluding Quebec) find the workers they need to overcome labour shortages.

In addition, the government is replacing the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot programs with two enhanced Caregiver Pilot programs.  The new pilot programs will provide eligible workers with permanent residence (PR) on arrival in Canada. Eligible individuals will also be allowed to work for organizations that provide temporary or part­-time care for people who are semi-independent or recovering from an injury or illness. The new programs will not only give care providers access to PR status as soon as they arrive in Canada, they will also make it easier for them to find suitable work with reliable employers.

Candidates interested in working in Canada’s home care sector will be eligible to apply for these new pilot programs if they meet the following criteria:

• attain a minimum of level 4 based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)
• hold the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma
• have recent and relevant work experience
• receive an offer for a full-time home care job
  (Canada.ca)

Federal Government Update

Facing weak poll numbers and leading a minority government that needs help from opposition parties to stay in power, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is experiencing a rocky end to 2024.  On December 16, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from the Liberal Cabinet hours before she was expected to present the Fall Economic Statement.  It has been reported that Freeland and Trudeau have major disagreements on a number of fiscal matters, including how best to handle the threat of US tariffs being made by Donald Trump.  Prime Minister Trudeau is facing calls to resign from within his party, and recent developments have magnified this situation.  The next federal election must take place before October 20, 2025, but only time will tell if the government will survive until next fall. 

Immigration, like other areas run by the Canadian government, is greatly influenced by the political climate.  This increased uncertainty makes it more important than ever to seek professional guidance in pursuing your immigration goals.  As always, our amazing Solutions team is here to help.

Updates for International Students

• As of November 8, 2024, eligible international students are allowed to work off campus up to twenty-four hours per week without a work permit. This is an increase from the former limit of twenty hours.

• As of November 1st, there are new language proficiency test requirements for those applying for a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP).  In addition, individuals applying for a study permit after November 1st will only be eligible for a PGWP if they graduate from an eligible field of study or receive a University Bachelors, Masters, or PhD degree.

• Moving forward, Masters and Doctoral students will also need a Provincial Attestation Letter when applying for a study permit.

It is extremely important to be aware of these changes if you are currently a student or intend to apply for a study permit as an incorrect decision can significantly impact your eligibility for either a study permit or a PGWP.

Temporary Pause on Group of 5 Sponsorship Application Intake

In order to clear up the backlog and improve processing times for existing Group of 5 applications, the government has put a temporary pause on accepting new G5 and Community Refugee Sponsorship Applications. The government says that this measure will remain in effect until December 31, 2025.