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Business Standard
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Canada polls 2025: What today's vote means for Indian immigrants, students
Canada heads to the polls today, and for hundreds of thousands of Indian nationals either living in the country or planning to move, the outcome could be crucial. Immigration policies have a direct impact on students, workers and families. As of late 2023, Canada was hosting around 1,040,985 international students, of which 278,860 were Indian nationals, accounting for nearly 27% of the total. The growth has been sharp—from just 31,920 Indian students in 2015. Employment figures show a similar trend. More than 26,000 Indian nationals were working in Canada in 2023 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, mainly in low-wage sectors. Many Indian graduates also moved to work permits through the Post-Graduation Work Permit Programme, helping strengthen Canada's skilled workforce. 'What's most concerning right now is the slowdown in investment and business, as well as the drop in local business valuation. Everything has slowed down due to high interest rates and lower appraisals of property and business. Many insiders are facing severe financial pressure—similar to the 2008 crisis,' said Varun Singh, managing director at XIPHIAS Immigration, speaking to Business Standard. 'Visa rejections based on political background are neither right nor ethical. Families are suffering because of the high rejection rates. Just look at the numbers—visa cancellations by the Canadian embassy have crossed 2 million,' he added. Pierre Poilievre, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, has said he would structure immigration policies to match new capacity in housing, healthcare, and jobs. The current Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has strong links with the Century Initiative, a think tank pushing for Canada's population to grow to 100 million by 2100. Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, had immigration policies heavily influenced by the Century Initiative. So far, Carney has not given any strong indication that he would reduce immigration levels. 'If Carney wins the election, Indians aspiring to immigrate to Canada would find it easier to do so. On the other hand, the crises of expensive housing, high cost of living and lack of jobs would get further exacerbated,' Darshan Maharaja, a Canada-based immigration analyst told Business Standard. He also warned that individual Indians should carefully assess their financial prospects before deciding to move. Current immigration targets Until recently, Canada's Immigration Levels Plan mainly focused on permanent residents. In October 2024, for the first time, the government introduced targets for temporary residents as well. Liberal leader Mark Carney has acknowledged the strain on infrastructure. 'Caps on immigration will remain in place until we've expanded housing,' he said in a recent interview. The Liberals have proposed keeping permanent resident admissions below 1% of Canada's population beyond 2027. The current target is 395,000 permanent residents for 2025, which is less than 1% of the projected population of 41.5 million. This points towards a continuation of current trends. At the same time, Poilievre has linked immigration numbers to infrastructure growth. In January 2024, he said, 'We'll bring it back to sustainable levels like we had under the Harper government.' Between 2006 and 2015, Canada admitted between 247,000 and 281,000 permanent residents annually. It is unclear whether Poilievre would stick to these numbers or adjust them based on today's larger population. His party has repeatedly said that immigration growth should not outpace the availability of housing, jobs, or healthcare. Temporary foreign workers and international students The number of temporary residents has been a growing concern for both major parties. As of January 1, 2025, Canada had around 3.02 million temporary residents, making up roughly 7.27% of the population. The Liberal Party has proposed reducing this share to under 5% by the end of 2027, with steps including: < Adding temporary resident targets to immigration plans < Placing caps on study permit applications < Restricting access to post-graduation and spousal open work permits < Reducing net new temporary arrivals by 150,000 between 2025 and 2026 Meanwhile, Poilievre has criticised the Temporary Foreign Worker Program sharply. 'We will crack down on fraud and dramatically reduce the number of temporary foreign workers and foreign students,' he said during a campaign event. The Conservative Party proposes: < Requiring union Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for hiring foreign workers < Limiting temporary workers mainly to agriculture or small towns with shortages < Requiring criminal background checks for all international students Currently, police certificates are only asked for if an officer requests them during the study permit process. Economic immigration and employment The Liberal Party supports economic migration and promises to 'revitalise' the Global Skills Strategy to attract highly skilled workers, particularly from the United States. It also plans to fast-track the recognition of foreign credentials, especially in healthcare and trades. Poilievre, in contrast, has spoken about a 'blue seal' national licensing standard that provinces could adopt to help immigrant healthcare workers get jobs faster. Impact on education Indian student numbers have fallen sharply, dropping by over 40% between 2023 and 2024, according to ICEF Monitor. Experts said this was largely due to Canada's real estate crisis, tighter visa rules, and tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa. However, there are signs of optimism. With US President Donald Trump taking a harder line on international students, Canada could regain its appeal for Indian students. Saurabh Arora, CEO of University Living, a global student housing marketplace, told Business Standard, 'First, we need to know who the next PM will be and whether it's a Liberal or Conservative government. Only then will we have clarity on future immigration policies. That said, with the significant contribution of Indians to Canada's economy—around CAD 13–14 billion annually from Indian students alone—India's importance cannot be ignored. Also, Punjabi is now the third-most spoken language in Canada.' Siddharth Iyer, COO of OneStep Global, said, 'Canada is a leading destination for international students, especially Indians. After the US, Canada has the largest intake of Indian students. They choose it because of its student-friendly policies, high-quality education, and ample work opportunities. Over the years, Indian students have built strong ties with Canadian institutions, and this is not set to change anytime soon.' As of the latest update to the CBC Poll Tracker, the Liberals were polling at 43.1%, compared to the Conservatives' 38.4%. The NDP had 8.3%, the BQ 5.8% nationally (25.4% in Quebec), the Greens 2.2%, and the People's Party 1.4%. It marks a striking turnaround for the Liberals, who were 24 points behind in January and are now ahead by 4.7 points. Numbers at a glance as per IRCC Annual Immigration Reports Permanent residents 2015: 39,340 Indians became permanent residents 2023: 139,715 Indians became permanent residents International students 2015: 31,920 Indian students held study permits 2023: 278,860 Indian students held study permits Temporary foreign workers 2015: 24,000 Indian nationals had Canadian work permits 2023: 64,000 Indian nationals had Canadian work permits The rapid growth over the past decade has been driven largely by policies under the Trudeau government. However, rising concerns about housing and infrastructure have already pushed the Canadian government to announce lower immigration targets starting late 2024.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Conservatives fear 'dysfunctional' campaign and 'civil war' in the party: sources
As Conservative infighting over how the campaign is handling U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats spills into the open, sources within the party are describing a "dysfunctional" campaign with too much centralized power and belittling and aggressive treatment of staff. More than half a dozen Conservatives, who spoke to CBC News on the condition they not be named for fear of retribution, describe a campaign that is "highly disorganized" and "a mess." The sources include individuals both inside and outside the campaign. Several of the sources allege that too many decisions have to go through Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's chief strategist, Jenni Byrne. "Jenni's in charge and that's all you know," said one Conservative campaign worker, who described the situation as dysfunctional. There's no evidence of a master plan, said the Conservative, and people are left to figure things out themselves. Sources said some people learned what they'd be doing on the campaign just hours before the race officially began — even though the Conservatives have been calling for an election since 2024. Relying on 'tight inner circle' One source described how the campaign didn't have some "basic stuff" in place before the writ was issued. Poilievre and Byrne are not inclined to listen to outside advice, sources said, relying instead on "a tight inner circle," which is composed, in part, of people who also work at Byrne's lobby firm outside the campaign period. The frustration is amplified because Conservatives have gone from anticipating they would form a majority government to seeing a dramatic rebirth for the Liberals under its new leader, Mark Carney, fuelled by concerns over Donald Trump's plans for Canada. Too many decisions have to go through Poilievre's chief strategist, Jenni Byrne, several sources allege. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) CBC's Poll Tracker suggests the Liberals are now most likely to form government — and claim a majority. CBC News reached out to the Conservative campaign about the issues raised in this story. A spokesperson declined to comment. The tension spilled out into the open this week when veteran Conservative strategist Kory Teneycke began publicly calling out the federal campaign, suggesting it was headed for disaster. "Look, I think for the Conservatives in the campaign cockpit, every buzzer and alarm is going off. And the plane is like going 'bzzzzz' and it's like 'pull up, pull up, pull," Teneycke told an audience Wednesday as part of a panel at Toronto's Empire Club of Canada. He argued the Conservative campaign was wasting energy talking about concerns around the World Economic Forum and trying to link the Liberals to an initiative to boost immigration levels known as the Century Initiative, rather than leaning in on the public's concerns about the U.S. president's treatment of Canada. "I'll make the case tonight, and hopefully this will permeate the Conservative Party war room somewhere — you've got to get on the f****ing ballot question that is driving votes. Or you are going to lose." In a subsequent interview with CBC News, Teneycke said Poilievre is acting too "Trump-y" with his pet names for political opponents and sloganeering, and it's a turnoff for voters the party needs to win. Teneycke managed the last three election campaigns for Doug Ford's Ontario PC Party, including Ford's recent re-election to a majority government. He also worked under former prime minister Stephen Harper, including working on Harper's 2015 campaign with Byrne. The Conservative loss to the Liberals that year left many hard feelings, particularly as the party resorted to now-panned measures like the '"barbaric cultural practices" tip line in an unsuccessful effort to shore up their support. This week, Teneycke went as far as releasing internal PC party numbers to the Toronto Star to show the federal Liberals taking a significant lead over the Poilievre's Conservative Party of Canada. Conservative strategist Kory Teneycke has begun publicly calling out the federal campaign, suggesting it was headed for disaster. (CBC) The public criticism that the campaign has failed to adequately address concerns about Trump is just not landing at the top levels of the federal campaign, sources said. Poilievre and Byrne "just reject that this is the central ballot question," said one Conservative. 'Weird fixation' on minor issues One Conservative suggested the tension — not only between Teneycke and Byrne but also between the Ontario and federal Conservative leaders — amounts to a civil war within the Conservative movement. Yet another source said the campaign has a "weird fixation" with relatively minor issues, like how the media is reporting Poilievre's rally crowd sizes. This Conservative said this should not be a concern for senior leaders like Byrne, given other issues they are grappling with. This source said the priority should be on crafting a better strategy to blunt the Liberal momentum. But the source wasn't hopeful that would actually happen. "There won't be a shift because the people who run this campaign don't want to shift," this person said, referring to both Byrne and Poilievre. What is likely to happen, this source said, is some sort of "counteroffensive" against Carney, with "persistent attacks" to try and sully the Liberal leader's reputation and drive down his favourability ratings. One Conservative said Poilievre has repeatedly condemned Trump and some of the criticisms of him being too soft on the president are unfair, pointing to Poilievre's forceful statement after the president announced a plan to slap tariffs on autos. But this source said the campaign has missed the mark on its policy announcements, focusing on non-U.S. or trade-related issues that are of little concern to voters when the country faces a crisis with its one-time closest friend and neighbour. The source said Thursday's TFSA top-up announcement sounded tone-deaf, while Poilievre's tough-on-crime pitch on Friday at a B.C. sawmill, which could face disruptions because of U.S. tariffs, was bizarre. This source said Poilievre is not used to running behind, and he's wedded to the playbook that got him in the lead in the first place.A source said the campaign staffing is also a particular concern, with last-minute adjustments to who's doing what causing uncertainty and confusion. Allegations of 'bullying' In addition to concerns about focus, several sources describe aggressive behaviour by leaders on the campaign, suggesting it is an environment ruled "by fear." There's frequent yelling and belittling, sources said. One source says the way the highest echelons of the campaign have treated one team member can only be described as bullying. "It's bullying. There's no other word for it." Two sources said Poilievre is set to speak more about Trump and his threats in an upcoming swing to Ontario. Some Conservatives defend the direction the campaign is taking. Kate Harrison, a Conservative strategist, said on CBC's The House the ballot question that will help the Conservatives is "around cost of living, affordability, and frankly the problems and the track record that brought Canadians to this place of vulnerability based on the last nine years." Harrison pointed to a poll from Narrative Research, which found two-thirds of respondents identified the cost of living as one of the most important issues facing Canada today. "I think that there is a link that Conservatives can make between the policies of the last nine years — yes, the threat and the impact of tariffs and this existential threat that Canadians face — without it having this be a referendum on Donald Trump alone," Harrison said.
CBC
29-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Conservatives fear 'dysfunctional' campaign and 'civil war' in the party: sources
As Conservative infighting over how the campaign is handling U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats spills into the open, sources within the party are describing a "dysfunctional" campaign with too much centralized power and belittling and aggressive treatment of staff. More than half a dozen Conservatives, who spoke to CBC News on the condition they not be named for fear of retribution, describe a campaign that is "highly disorganized" and "a mess." The sources include individuals both inside and outside the campaign. Several of the sources allege that too many decisions have to go through Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's chief strategist, Jenni Byrne. "Jenni's in charge and that's all you know," said one Conservative campaign worker, who described the situation as dysfunctional. There's no evidence of a master plan, said the Conservative, and people are left to figure things out themselves. Sources said some people learned what they'd be doing on the campaign just hours before the race officially began — even though the Conservatives have been calling for an election since 2024. Relying on 'tight inner circle' One source described how the campaign didn't have some "basic stuff" in place before the writ was issued. Poilievre and Byrne are not inclined to listen to outside advice, sources said, relying instead on "a tight inner circle," which is composed, in part, of people who also work at Byrne's lobby firm outside the campaign period. The frustration is amplified because Conservatives have gone from anticipating they would form a majority government to seeing a dramatic rebirth for the Liberals under its new leader, Mark Carney, fuelled by concerns over Donald Trump's plans for Canada. CBC's Poll Tracker suggests the Liberals are now most likely to form government — and claim a majority. CBC News reached out to the Conservative campaign about the issues raised in this story. A spokesperson declined to comment. The tension spilled out into the open this week when veteran Conservative strategist Kory Teneycke began publicly calling out the federal campaign, suggesting it was headed for disaster. "Look, I think for the Conservatives in the campaign cockpit, every buzzer and alarm is going off. And the plane is like going 'bzzzzz' and it's like 'pull up, pull up, pull," Teneycke told an audience Wednesday as part of a panel at Toronto's Empire Club of Canada. He argued the Conservative campaign was wasting energy talking about concerns around the World Economic Forum and trying to link the Liberals to an initiative to boost immigration levels known as the Century Initiative, rather than leaning in on the public's concerns about the U.S. president's treatment of Canada. "I'll make the case tonight, and hopefully this will permeate the Conservative Party war room somewhere — you've got to get on the f****ing ballot question that is driving votes. Or you are going to lose." In a subsequent interview with CBC News, Teneycke said Poilievre is acting too "Trump-y" with his pet names for political opponents and sloganeering, and it's a turnoff for voters the party needs to win. Teneycke managed the last three election campaigns for Doug Ford's Ontario PC Party, including Ford's recent re-election to a majority government. He also worked under former prime minister Stephen Harper, including working on Harper's 2015 campaign with Byrne. The Conservative loss to the Liberals that year left many hard feelings, particularly as the party resorted to now-panned measures like the '"barbaric cultural practices" tip line in an unsuccessful effort to shore up their support. This week, Teneycke went as far as releasing internal PC party numbers to the Toronto Star to show the federal Liberals taking a significant lead over the Poilievre's Conservative Party of Canada. The public criticism that the campaign has failed to adequately address concerns about Trump is just not landing at the top levels of the federal campaign, sources said. Poilievre and Byrne "just reject that this is the central ballot question," said one Conservative. 'Weird fixation' on minor issues One Conservative suggested the tension — not only between Teneycke and Byrne but also between the Ontario and federal Conservative leaders — amounts to a civil war within the Conservative movement. Yet another source said the campaign has a "weird fixation" with relatively minor issues, like how the media is reporting Poilievre's rally crowd sizes. This Conservative said this should not be a concern for senior leaders like Byrne, given other issues they are grappling with. This source said the priority should be on crafting a better strategy to blunt the Liberal momentum. But the source wasn't hopeful that would actually happen. "There won't be a shift because the people who run this campaign don't want to shift," this person said, referring to both Byrne and Poilievre. What is likely to happen, this source said, is some sort of "counteroffensive" against Carney, with "persistent attacks" to try and sully the Liberal leader's reputation and drive down his favourability ratings. One Conservative said Poilievre has repeatedly condemned Trump and some of the criticisms of him being too soft on the president are unfair, pointing to Poilievre's forceful statement after the president announced a plan to slap tariffs on autos. But this source said the campaign has missed the mark on its policy announcements, focusing on non-U.S. or trade-related issues that are of little concern to voters when the country faces a crisis with its one-time closest friend and neighbour. The source said Thursday's TFSA top-up announcement sounded tone-deaf, while Poilievre's tough-on-crime pitch on Friday at a B.C. sawmill, which could face disruptions because of U.S. tariffs, was bizarre. This source said Poilievre is not used to running behind, and he's wedded to the playbook that got him in the lead in the first place. WATCH | Poilievre asked about declining poll numbers: Poilievre says it's election day result that matters, not polling 2 days ago Duration 1:51 Responding to a question about how some public opinion polls show the Conservatives losing their lead over the Liberals, leader Pierre Poilievre said Canadians will make their decision on voting day. A source said the campaign staffing is also a particular concern, with last-minute adjustments to who's doing what causing uncertainty and confusion. Allegations of 'bullying' In addition to concerns about focus, several sources describe aggressive behaviour by leaders on the campaign, suggesting it is an environment ruled "by fear." There's frequent yelling and belittling, sources said. One source says the way the highest echelons of the campaign have treated one team member can only be described as bullying. "It's bullying. There's no other word for it." Two sources said Poilievre is set to speak more about Trump and his threats in an upcoming swing to Ontario. Some Conservatives defend the direction the campaign is taking. Kate Harrison, a Conservative strategist, said on CBC's The House the ballot question that will help the Conservatives is "around cost of living, affordability, and frankly the problems and the track record that brought Canadians to this place of vulnerability based on the last nine years." Harrison pointed to a poll from Narrative Research, which found two-thirds of respondents identified the cost of living as one of the most important issues facing Canada today. "I think that there is a link that Conservatives can make between the policies of the last nine years — yes, the threat and the impact of tariffs and this existential threat that Canadians face — without it having this be a referendum on Donald Trump alone," Harrison said.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Elections Canada boosts access to security at polling locations due to ongoing 'tensions'
OTTAWA — Elections Canada says it has boosted availability of security at polling locations in light of ongoing 'tensions' caused by the Israel-Hamas conflict and the historic trade war with the United States. Elections Commissioner Stéphane Perrault said on Monday that his organization is ready to deliver a 'secure and accessible' federal election on April 28. As part of that effort, he said the organization was already working to secure the necessary polling locations, extending its 'vote on campus' program to roughly 1.4 million students for a first ever federal election and expanding voting options for Indigenous and northern communities. He also told reporters that the organization preventatively pre-approved security spending for returning officers (who administer the elections in each of the 343 federal ridings) to protect polling locations and offices if needed. That's a change from previous elections, where returning officers had to request approval for security expenses as the needs arose, which slowed down the process. 'In the last election, we saw that there were some tensions — just in case people have forgotten, this was the pandemic election — and there were tensions in that election. We were in pandemic measures, and then we saw that at the polls,' Perrault said. 'This time around, rather than having to do a case-by-case approval as we go, we provided initial budgets for returning officers based on their assessment … whether security is needed,' he added. Carney promises tax cut, calls Poilievre 'Canadian Trump' at campaign launch The 'Century Initiative' is the talk of the campaign, but what is it? Senior Elections Canada officials said during a background briefing to reporters that while the COVID-19 pandemic is over, societal tensions remain in the current 'context of uncertainty.' During the 2021 vote, Elections Canada reported a handful of disruptions among the tens of thousands of polling stations across the country. 'Obviously, we were inspired by the context in 2021 during the pandemic,' the official said. 'To avoid certain administrative delays, and in the current context with the tensions related to Hamas and Palestine and the United States, we're acting prudently,' said one official. 'We're allowing returning to use their judgement to ensure the safety of voters at polling stations and at their offices,' he added. Perrault said the election is estimated to cost $570 million, roughly the same amount as the previous one. He said his organization is looking to hire 200,000 people to work a total of 16,000 polling locations on April 28. Another major difference from 2021 is that Elections Canada will only place polling stations in long-term care homes on election day instead of multiple days leading up to April 28. National Post cnardi@ Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 'Century Initiative' is the talk of the campaign, but what is it?
OTTAWA — The campaign may have just begun, but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre already looks to have found his favourite target: the Liberal-linked Century Initiative. The little known pro-immigration lobby group, which seeks to grow Canada's population to 100 million by 2100, has been on Poilievre's lips a lot in the campaign's opening stretch, after Liberal Leader Mark Carney added Century Initiative co-founder Mark Wiseman to his advisory council on Canada-U.S. relations last week. Poilievre said Friday, at a pre-writ skilled trades announcement in suburban Ottawa, the appointment shows the Liberal leader shares the group's vision for Canada. 'By bringing on Mr. Wiseman, it shows that Mark Carney supports the Liberal Century Initiative to nearly triple our population to 100 million people,' Poilievre said in response to a question on the topic. Poilievre calls Smith's oilpatch demands 'reasonable,' challenges Carney to disclose foreign oil investments Emissions cap bombshell upends Carney-Smith meeting in Edmonton 'That is the radical Liberal agenda on immigration.' Carney, who's said he'll scale back immigration to pre-pandemic levels, has distanced himself from the group, telling reporters at Rideau Hall on Sunday that intake should stay capped until the housing crunch has abated. He added in French that Quebec should have the right to determine 'a rhythm of immigration that allows for integration.' Here are a few things to know about the group that wants to supersize Canada. Founded in 2014, the group bills itself as a 'diverse, non-partisan network of Canadians from the business, academic and charitable sectors' who share a vision of a more populous and prosperous Canada with more pull on the global stage. The group favours both immigration and more domestic births, advocating for Canada to meet the OECD average of 1.6 children per woman by the next decade, reversing the current record low of 1.3. births. According to the Initiative's website, its day-to-day activities include education, advocacy and meeting with key decision-makers. Notably, it publishes a yearly national scorecard on Canada's growth and prosperity. The Century Initiative was added to Canada's Registry of Lobbyists in 2021, but is currently listed as inactive. The Century Initiative was co-founded by Wiseman and fellow businessperson Dominic Barton in 2014. Barton went on to chair Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Advisory Council on Economic Growth, and was tapped by Trudeau in 2019 as Canada's 21st Ambassador to China. Barton, who was also a central figure in a scandal involving Liberal government contracts to his ex-firm McKinsey & Company, is no longer affiliated with the group. The group has a nine directors, 15 affiliated experts and a three-person Council of Champions, according to its website. One notable member is ex-Edmonton mayor Don Iveson, who is rumoured to be eyeing a federal run as a Liberal. Business Council of Canada head Goldy Hyder and retired Trudeau Senate appointee Ratna Omidvar are also members. The group says that the target of 100 million Canadians by 2100 is carefully chosen, based on future economic and national security needs. '100 million isn't an arbitrary number. It's the population we need for Canada to remain a prosperous and diverse society with relevance on the international stage,' reads the group's website. The group recently tacked a note to its landing page pushing back against 'misleading claims' that have circulated in the early days of the campaign. 'Let's set the record straight… Our mission is to ensure long-term, responsible economic growth for Canada by advocating for a national smart growth framework,' reads the note. 'This means aligning immigration with strategic investments in housing, infrastructure, and public services.' 'Efforts to mischaracterize our work are politically opportunistic and do a disservice to voters. We remain committed to facts, informed policy, and Canada's future.' National Post rmohamed@ Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here.
