The Canadian government, led by the Carney Liberals, has faced criticism for not releasing immigration data for several months. This lack of transparency has raised questions about the state of immigration in the country. Normally, data on new arrivals, asylum seekers, and other immigration statistics are made available on the government’s open data portal. However, the last update was in May, covering information only until the end of March.

Conservative Immigration Critic Michelle Rempel-Garner highlighted the issue in a statement last week. She questioned the government about the number of illegal border crossings, the backlog of asylum claims, and the impact of immigration on housing and healthcare. "Whatever they are, Canada has a right to know," she stated, emphasizing the public's need for access to this information.

Historically, Canada’s immigration system has been viewed as a model for other countries. It has enjoyed public support due to its orderly nature. However, this perception has shifted in recent years. In April 2022, the Trudeau government implemented significant changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program, allowing seasonal industries to hire workers year-round. The cap on the percentage of TFW workers in a company was increased from 10% to 20%, and in some sectors, it was raised to 30%. Additionally, the government removed a stipulation that restricted TFW approvals when unemployment exceeded 6%.

These changes coincided with an increase in the number of permanent residents allowed into Canada, with plans to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025. The government also expanded opportunities for international students, allowing them to work and take jobs in Canada. This has led to a growing concern about the number of foreign workers and international students claiming asylum instead of returning home after their visas expire.

The lack of data complicates the assessment of these issues. A request for comment from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada went unanswered until late Friday, when the response was vague. The department stated that monthly data is still available upon request but is in the process of updating how it will be presented. "The goal is to provide clearer explanations of trends and greater context to help Canadians better understand data about key IRCC programs," the statement read.

In response, Rempel-Garner expressed skepticism about the government's intentions. She stated, "The Liberal government just admitted that they have purposefully withheld raw immigration data from the public, and intend on replacing it with heavily edited information that will likely be packaged with Liberal spin." This concern reflects a broader apprehension about the government's handling of immigration data, especially given the challenges faced in recent years.