What the Heck is Happening in our Immigration System?

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Canada’s immigration system – once the global gold standard, once the envy of the world – is now a broken, steaming wreck of its former self. What took generations to build has been shattered in just a decade. And it all happened under one government’s watch.

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Immigration used to be a point of national pride. Canadians understood its value – not just economically, but morally. We built a country that welcomed the best and brightest, those fleeing persecution, those seeking a better life – and we did it with order, fairness, and purpose.

But today? That purpose is gone. The order is gone. And the fairness? Well, that’s the cruelest casualty of all.

Canadians from all walks of life are now asking: Is anyone in charge? Do rules matter anymore? Is there a plan? Or even a single working Excel spreadsheet over at the immigration ministry?

All signs point to no. In fact, all signs point to more bedlam from the same Liberal government that broke the system in the first place.

This month alone, we got two damning pieces of evidence. And if they didn’t make you furious, then you probably weren’t paying attention.

Let’s start with this bombshell: over the past eleven years, Ottawa has quietly allowed more than 17,500 foreign nationals with criminal convictions to enter and stay in Canada. That’s right – convicted criminals. What kind of crimes? We don’t know. Why? The government won’t say. Did they ever tell the public this was happening? Not once. Not over a decade.

And here’s the kicker: this wasn’t a mistake. These people were knowingly allowed to stay – their convictions “waived” by IRCC.

Remind me: isn’t the point of immigration to bring in skilled, law-abiding individuals who contribute to our country – not people who already have a record of breaking the law?

This is not compassion. It’s chaos. It’s a betrayal of the trust Canadians have placed in their government. And worst of all, the Liberals didn’t even think you deserved to know.

But it doesn’t end there.

We also learned that the number of temporary residents in Canada has doubled since 2021. Not increased slightly. Not risen moderately. Doubled.

Why does that matter? Because the same government – yes, the same one – promised they would cap the number of temporary residents at 5% of Canada’s population. Why? Because the system was spiraling out of control. Because housing was unaffordable. Because the population was growing faster than any G7 country. Because cities were bursting at the seams.

But at this pace? That target won’t be hit until 2029, according to the C.D. Howe institute. And in the meantime, asylum claims have tripled, the backlog is exploding, and temporary residents now account for more than 7.5% of Canada’s population – nearly three million people.

Let’s be clear: this is not a criticism of immigrants. It’s a criticism of government failure.

Because here’s what Canadians are dealing with:

· Skyrocketing home prices, especially in the very cities where temporary residents are concentrated.

· Emergency rooms packed beyond capacity.

· Subways and highways so full they feel like sardine cans on wheels.

· Skilled immigrants – doctors, nurses, engineers – stuck on the sidelines because no one wants to process or recognize their credentials.

And yet, while we can’t find room for the professionals we desperately need, we’re letting in convicted criminals with open arms. That’s not just incompetence. That’s a complete failure of values.

This is bad for the people already living here. It’s bad for those who’ve been here for generations. But it’s also bad for those who want to come here the right way – those who follow the rules, work hard, and want to give their families a better life. They’re being punished too. Punished by backlogs, bureaucracy, and the consequences of a government that governs by photo op and press release instead of plan and purpose.

I’m not cheering any of this. I’m the daughter of immigrants. I know exactly what immigration means to this country and to millions of Canadians like my family. It’s in our DNA.

But that’s exactly why I think it needs our attention.

Because defending immigration means defending the integrity of the system. It means insisting that we have rules – and that those rules are followed. It means saying no to criminals and yes to skilled workers. It means doing the hard work of planning for schools, housing, transit, and hospitals. And it means giving Canadians faith that their government actually knows what it’s doing.

We don’t have to choose between compassion and competence. We don’t have to pick between economic growth and social cohesion. We can – and should – have all of it.

But that starts with a government that’s honest, focused, and serious.

This one isn’t.

And every day they stay in office, the system gets worse.

We’re on immigration minister #7 in 10 years.

Any guesses on how long this one lasts?