IMMIGRATION POLICY
The Liberals would work with the U.S. to “modernize” the Safe Third Country Agreement. They would increase immigration to 350,000 a year by 2021 — up from 310,000 in 2018 — and would create a program to allow communities, chambers of commerce and labour councils to directly sponsor immigrants, with a minimum of 5,000 spaces. The party would make applying for Canadian citizenship free for permanent residents.
The Conservatives would
renegotiate the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, which requires refugee claimants to request protection in the first safe country where they arrive. They would improve language training and credential recognition so it is easier for immigrants to use their skills in Canada. The party would promote private sponsorships of refugees and prioritize “people facing true persecution.” They would set immigration levels “consistent with what is in Canada’s best interests.”
The NDP would suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement. It would work with provinces to address gaps in settlement services and improve foreign credentials recognition. The party would end the cap on applications to sponsor parents and grandparents, and address backlogs that delay reunification. It would regulate immigration consultants and would give status to caregivers brought to Canada. The NDP would set immigration levels to “meet Canada’s labour force needs.”
The Greens would terminate the Safe Third Country Agreement. The party would include “environmental refugee” as a refugee category. It would create a system to evaluate immigrants’ education to help them get accreditation and jobs. The Greens would also eliminate the temporary foreign workers program, increase immigration to address labour shortages, and would regulate immigration consultants. The party has not announced immigration levels, but would “attract immigrants and establish a system that is fair.”