In an unexpected move, Canada’s public broadcaster CBC published a critical piece targeting the Liberal Party’s recent immigration policy, linking it to a surge in asylum claims throughout 2023. The controversy centers around a decision by the Liberal government to relax visitor visa eligibility checks—a move aimed at reducing an overwhelming backlog of visa applications.

At the beginning of 2023, the government opted to waive several eligibility criteria for visitor visas, including proof of sufficient funds and confirmed return tickets. This policy shift, which was quietly enacted to address a backlog exceeding two million visa applications, has since drawn significant scrutiny.

According to CBC’s report, info obtained by The Globe and Mail warned that loosening these requirements could result in unintended consequences, including a predicted increase of up to 8,600 additional asylum claims. Ultimately, the real numbers far exceeded expectations, with over 24,000 new asylum claims originating from airport arrivals by the end of 2023.

The CBC report highlights growing frustrations over the ripple effects of these changes. Critics argue that the relaxed policies made it easier for non-genuine visitors to enter the country and subsequently file for asylum, which has further strained Canada’s immigration system. This development contrasts with the Liberal government’s assurances that such adjustments were intended to be a temporary fix to ease the visa backlog.

Canada has faced a sharp rise in asylum claims over the past year, with numbers increasing by 129% compared to 2022. The Immigration and Refugee Board reported handling 138,000 claims in 2023, further exacerbating an existing backlog of nearly 186,000 cases by mid-2024. Many claimants entered the country legally under the relaxed visitor visa rules and applied for asylum immediately upon arrival.

Immigration officials attribute part of this increase to global instability and targeted migration patterns, particularly from countries like India, where political and economic challenges have driven individuals to seek refuge in Canada.

In the second quarter of 2024 alone, 6,000 asylum claims were filed by Indian nationals at Canadian airports—an unprecedented 500% increase compared to the same period the previous year.

The fallout from the CBC’s reporting is significant, raising questions about both the efficacy and transparency of the Liberal government’s immigration policies. Public concern over immigration has also grown, with surveys indicating that 44% of Canadians believe the country is accepting too many newcomers, compared to 27% in 2022.

The government is now under pressure to balance humanitarian commitments with practical concerns over housing shortages and service capacity, alongside its aim to admit 500,000 new permanent residents annually by 2025. Stricter immigration measures are being proposed to prevent further misuse of visitor visas, while efforts to clear the asylum backlog continue.

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