Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) To Cut 3,300 Jobs

IRCC recently announced a plan to eliminate 3,300 workers over the next 3 years in an effort to reduce spending to pre-pandemic levels. The information was conveyed to employees over email and was later circulated by major news outlets. The layoffs will begin mid-February and will affect every sector and branch at IRCC, both domestically and internationally, and at all levels, including at executive levels.

What this means for our clients

The timing of these job cuts is particularly concerning as Canada's immigration processing system is already under immense strain. Per IRCC’s own statistics, approximately 38% of permanent residence applications and 54% of temporary residence applications were backlogged as of November 2024. We anticipate further delays to processing times for all types of immigration applications, including exacerbation of these existing backlogs. All applicants, whether employer-sponsored or not, should aim to file their immigration applications as early as possible in anticipation of an uptick in processing times. Employers should plan ahead and remain flexible with start dates for foreign national employees relying on the approval of work permits and visas.