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Reading over @ErinOTooleMP's immigration platform today. Important to consider given his new role as opposition leader. A combination of tweaks to, shifts from, and acceptance of the status quo. Some notable points (and my takes) below.
Thread below. (1/24)
Thread below. (1/24)
Status quo:
1. "Steady levels," I'm not quite sre, but I think it endorses the current policy of multiyear immigration targets brought in under the current gov. Smart IMO, as it provides flexible long-term planning for settlement agencies, businesses, muni govs, etc.
1. "Steady levels," I'm not quite sre, but I think it endorses the current policy of multiyear immigration targets brought in under the current gov. Smart IMO, as it provides flexible long-term planning for settlement agencies, businesses, muni govs, etc.
Status quo (cont'd):
2a. Renegotiate the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement with the US government. The current government also committed to this. I'm skeptical the US will play ball, and think we should focus on a more responsive asylum system instead. Get decisions up.
2a. Renegotiate the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement with the US government. The current government also committed to this. I'm skeptical the US will play ball, and think we should focus on a more responsive asylum system instead. Get decisions up.
Status quo (cont'd):
2b. I'd be remiss if I didn't note that the current, less-robust, STCA was declared invalid recently in the Federal Court. This decision is being appealed by the Feds, but it does raise some doubts about the long-term security of the Agreement.
2b. I'd be remiss if I didn't note that the current, less-robust, STCA was declared invalid recently in the Federal Court. This decision is being appealed by the Feds, but it does raise some doubts about the long-term security of the Agreement.
Status quo (final):
3. Focus on skills-based immigration - Unless there's another interpretation people are aware of, I'm assuming this means the endorsement of the bipartisan consensus on economic migration remaining the largest portion of our total immigration levels.
3. Focus on skills-based immigration - Unless there's another interpretation people are aware of, I'm assuming this means the endorsement of the bipartisan consensus on economic migration remaining the largest portion of our total immigration levels.
Tweaks:
1. Indicates he'd expand provincial involvement in immigration to address specific labour and population gaps. That could mean granting them QC-levels of authority over immigration, but more likely it means granting them a greater %tage of the total immigration quota.
1. Indicates he'd expand provincial involvement in immigration to address specific labour and population gaps. That could mean granting them QC-levels of authority over immigration, but more likely it means granting them a greater %tage of the total immigration quota.
Tweaks (cont'd):
2. Shift towards even more private refugee resettlement. Currently, private resettlement is targeted at 62-63% of all refugee resettlement for 2020-22. Would shift funds saved from government sponsorship to support settlement agreement holders.
2. Shift towards even more private refugee resettlement. Currently, private resettlement is targeted at 62-63% of all refugee resettlement for 2020-22. Would shift funds saved from government sponsorship to support settlement agreement holders.
Tweaks (cont'd):
2b. Government sponsorship would focus on marginalized groups, including religious and cultural minorities, and LGBTQ2+ individuals.
2b. Government sponsorship would focus on marginalized groups, including religious and cultural minorities, and LGBTQ2+ individuals.
Tweaks (cont'd):
3b. In some ways, greater government focus on these *could* help, as private sponsorship can sometimes favour family links, leaving marginalized groups without family on the sidelines.
3b. In some ways, greater government focus on these *could* help, as private sponsorship can sometimes favour family links, leaving marginalized groups without family on the sidelines.
Tweaks (cont'd):
4. Mobile border checkpoint - I'm not sure what's exactly being proposed here, but my interpretation is that this would establish a team that would go to border crossing locations and establish them as official ports of entry.
4. Mobile border checkpoint - I'm not sure what's exactly being proposed here, but my interpretation is that this would establish a team that would go to border crossing locations and establish them as official ports of entry.
Tweaks (cont'd):
4b. Under the current arrangement that'd allow border officials to turn people arriving there to claim asylum back to United States border officials. I'm not sure about this one. See below.
4b. Under the current arrangement that'd allow border officials to turn people arriving there to claim asylum back to United States border officials. I'm not sure about this one. See below.
Tweaks (cont'd):
4c. Assuming that ports of entry are established under regulatory authority, there aren't any parliamentary hurdles here, but the big ?-mark is the US. Would they recognize mobile checkpoints as credible ports of entry for accepting returned asylees? Unsure.
4c. Assuming that ports of entry are established under regulatory authority, there aren't any parliamentary hurdles here, but the big ?-mark is the US. Would they recognize mobile checkpoints as credible ports of entry for accepting returned asylees? Unsure.
Shifts:
1. Shift #1 puts a giant asterisk on status quo acceptance of skills-based immigration. Here @ErinOTooleMP indicates he'd shift the balance of total immigration away from skilled workers to family reunification if pandemic-related unemployment remains high.
1. Shift #1 puts a giant asterisk on status quo acceptance of skills-based immigration. Here @ErinOTooleMP indicates he'd shift the balance of total immigration away from skilled workers to family reunification if pandemic-related unemployment remains high.
Shifts (cont'd):
1b. I believe @mikalskuterud has highlighted how immigrants entering during periods of high unemployment can face stunted long-term incomes, so the point the page makes on this isn't off-base in its assumptions.
1b. I believe @mikalskuterud has highlighted how immigrants entering during periods of high unemployment can face stunted long-term incomes, so the point the page makes on this isn't off-base in its assumptions.
Shifts (cont'd):
1c. It also underscores the value added by unpaid labour provided by family members. Overall, a shift to family reunification would mark a significant change in Canadian immigration policy since the introduction of the points system in the 1960s.
1c. It also underscores the value added by unpaid labour provided by family members. Overall, a shift to family reunification would mark a significant change in Canadian immigration policy since the introduction of the points system in the 1960s.
Shifts (cont'd):
2. CANZUK - This is probably the largest shift proposed by @ErinOTooleMP. It proposes (among other things) free movement for workers, students and other citizens of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Sorta like a quasi-EU/British Empire.
2. CANZUK - This is probably the largest shift proposed by @ErinOTooleMP. It proposes (among other things) free movement for workers, students and other citizens of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Sorta like a quasi-EU/British Empire.
Shifts (cont'd):
2b. Emphasis on the "quasi-", no proposal for an imperial or continental parliament. As far as movement goes, it appears more akin to the Trans-Tasman Agreement (Australia-New Zealand), Common Travel Area (UK-Ireland), or Union State (Russia-Belarus)
2b. Emphasis on the "quasi-", no proposal for an imperial or continental parliament. As far as movement goes, it appears more akin to the Trans-Tasman Agreement (Australia-New Zealand), Common Travel Area (UK-Ireland), or Union State (Russia-Belarus)
Bonus:
I wasn't sure where to put this, but the platform includes an immigration-related policy response to the China-Hong Kong situation. Specifically, it proposes attracting Hong Kong talent, expanding refugee resettlement options, and not denying asylum to protestors.
I wasn't sure where to put this, but the platform includes an immigration-related policy response to the China-Hong Kong situation. Specifically, it proposes attracting Hong Kong talent, expanding refugee resettlement options, and not denying asylum to protestors.
Overall impressions:
Despite comparisons to the US, this particular suite of proposals demonstrates that the bipartisan consensus on immigration remains intact in Canada. That is, both main parties believe immigration plays an important role in Canadian policy.
Despite comparisons to the US, this particular suite of proposals demonstrates that the bipartisan consensus on immigration remains intact in Canada. That is, both main parties believe immigration plays an important role in Canadian policy.
Impressions (cont'd):
While the proposal to shift from economic to family immigration would represent a significant change, it appears to be stated as a temporary measure in response to the pandemic. Overall, the focus remains on economic immigration.
While the proposal to shift from economic to family immigration would represent a significant change, it appears to be stated as a temporary measure in response to the pandemic. Overall, the focus remains on economic immigration.
Impressions (cont'd):
While it might be tempting to use the STCA-related policies to paint an O'Toole-led CPC with the nativist brush, it's worth pointing out that the current government supports an expanded STCA, is appealing to uphold the current one, and recently...
While it might be tempting to use the STCA-related policies to paint an O'Toole-led CPC with the nativist brush, it's worth pointing out that the current government supports an expanded STCA, is appealing to uphold the current one, and recently...
Impressions (cont'd):
...used the regulations therein to enforce the return of claimants crossing the border to the US on the basis of the pandemic. On the other end of the spectrum, CANZUK proposes to expand residency rights to ~97 million citizens of other countries.
...used the regulations therein to enforce the return of claimants crossing the border to the US on the basis of the pandemic. On the other end of the spectrum, CANZUK proposes to expand residency rights to ~97 million citizens of other countries.
Impressions (cont'd):
The HK-related proposals are interesting. It recognizes the role of immigration, resettlement, and asylum as foreign policy instruments. @aimenlau and myself write something similar in this @globeandmail op-ed here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canada-has-an-unused-card-up-its-sleeve-against-china-our-immigration/
The HK-related proposals are interesting. It recognizes the role of immigration, resettlement, and asylum as foreign policy instruments. @aimenlau and myself write something similar in this @globeandmail op-ed here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canada-has-an-unused-card-up-its-sleeve-against-china-our-immigration/
FINAL: I am not a member of any political party, and this is not a robust policy analysis. Above all, I tried to limit my comments to the magnitude of changes proposed here and to avoid normative statements. Comments and clarification here are welcome.
