This episode answers a listener request to cover increased IRCC refusals of provincial nominee applications. The AUDIO-only version of the episode includes Steven Meurrens’ thoughts’ on Minister Marc Miller’s response to complaints about decreases in provincial nominee quotas: “Provinces and Territories that are willing to work in a responsible manner with Canada, including playing a role in taking on asylum seekers, will have an opportunity to regain coveted Provincial Nominee spots.”

On January 21, 2025, IRCC restricted the availability of open spousal work permits to principal applicants working in certain “skilled” professions. Family open work permits are now limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities such as natural and applied sciences, construction, health care, natural resources, education, sports and military sectors.

The move more than reversed a December 2, 2022, announcement that IRCC would be allowing most spouses of workers in Canada to obtain open work permits because, according to the government, it would “improve the emotional well-being, physical health and financial stability of workers by keeping families together” and that the “worker will better integrate into their overall work environment and community.”

On this episode, our hosts speak with Christopher Worswick, Chair of Carleton University’s Economics department, about the anticipated economic consequences of Canada’s 2025 Immigration Levels Plan. We pose questions such as:

– what is the likely impact of Canada’s plan that 1.2 million students/temporary foreign workers will depart Canada in the coming year?

– might the departure of 1.2 million temporary residents affect housing and healthcare?

– What is the likely impact if this population reduction on GDP per capita? What about labour supply?

Lisa Brunner is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Centre for Migration Studies.

On this episode, she talks with Steven Meurrens about the current situation international students are facing, the gaslighting over whether they were told that being a student would likely lead them to permanent residency, how post-graduate work permit holders in British Columbia are taking leaves of absence to study French, international students claiming asylum, and more.