New temporary immigration reforms: Major human impact on foreign workers' families

A reform that will particularly affect families already living in France

This reform, which restricts access to open work permits for the spouses of foreign workers, is not limited to a few minor adjustments. From now on, only the spouses of workers whose occupation is classified as FEER 0, 1 and, in certain cases, FEER 2 and 3, will be able to obtain this permit. List of eligible FEER 2 and 3 occupations here.  

In addition, this measure requires the foreign worker to have a permit valid for at least 16 months in order to qualify his or her spouse. This excludes workers in low-wage jobs, as the work permit can now only be valid for 12 months. 

Foreign workers in low-priority sectors will also be deprived of this opportunity. This new restriction will have dramatic consequences for the spouses of foreign workers who had hoped to continue living and working in Canada.

Lives turned upside down by this decision

One of the most tragic dimensions of this reform is the human impact it will have on families already present in Canada. In 2023, the government had allowed the spouses of temporary foreign workers in low-skilled occupations (FEER 4 and 5) to obtain an open work permit, provided they had an EIMT under the high-wage stream. This temporary support gave many families the chance to settle and participate actively in Canadian society.

But with this reform, a large proportion of these families will find themselves in a precarious situation. They will probably have to leave Canada in the coming months. We're not just talking about administrative losses here, but about shattered lives and projects. These families have left their country, abandoned their jobs, their schools and their loved ones, in the hope of a better life. Forced return to their country of origin, after having rebuilt part of their lives in Canada, represents an immense shock.

Who will be most affected?

The people affected by this reform are numerous and, unfortunately, will be particularly hard hit by this new legislation. Here are the groups most affected:

1. Spouses of foreign workers in low-wage jobsregardless of the job's skill classification.
2. Spouses of foreign workers in FEER 2 or 3 jobsbut are not included in the professions in short supply or in the sectors identified as priorities by the government.
3. Spouses of foreign workers with FEER 4 or 5 jobswho were eligible for an open work permit thanks to a high-wage EIMT.

There's no doubt that this reform will have devastating effects on thousands of families who find themselves in a situation where they will probably have to leave the country. The consequences will not be merely administrative: they will be human, profound and unavoidable.

A complex question: Is this the right solution?

The question arises: was this reform, which limits the arrival and retention of spouses of foreign workers, necessary? Could limiting the arrival in Canada of new spouses and partners of foreign workers through this measure have been a solution worth considering? While immigration is not an acquired right, it must be treated with due consideration for human realities. It's important to remember that the people concerned did not take the decision to leave their country of origin lightly. They left their roots, their homes, to seek better opportunities here in Canada. Sending them back, after years of effort to integrate, has far more far-reaching consequences than we could ever imagine.