International

Canada to announce reduction in immigration levels today

Published

1 month ago

October 24, 2024

Canada to announce reduction in immigration levels today

Canada is set to make a significant change to its immigration policy as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government prepares to announce a reduction in immigration levels.

This announcement follows years of consecutive increases in immigration numbers.

According to Immigration News Canada (INC), the decision is expected to be revealed on Thursday, with new permanent resident intake targets dropping by 90,000 individuals in 2025, reducing the total from 485,000 to 395,000.

This aligns with INC’s prediction made in July 2024 regarding potential reductions in immigration targets. The revised figures mark a departure from earlier government projections that aimed for 500,000 new immigrants annually by 2025.

Revised immigration targets

INC reports that the new immigration targets will continue to decline, reaching 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.

This approach indicates a more careful view of immigration for the future. The change shows that the Trudeau administration is reacting to public opinion and economic factors.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller is set to provide a detailed breakdown of immigration programs on November 1st, 2024. Initial reports indicate that the federal economic class will face the most significant cuts.

Economic class cuts

Further reports disclose that the economic-class immigration intake is projected to decrease by approximately 60%, resulting in the acceptance of just over 41,000 applicants in 2025.

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It means that the number of applicants accepted into the economic-class immigration program is set to decrease significantly, with only about 41,000 expected to be accepted by next year.

Although the numbers are expected to slightly recover in 2026 and 2027, they will remain far below previous targets. The overall numbers will still be much lower than what was planned before.

Economic immigration encompasses various programs, including the Agri-Food Pilot Program, Canadian Experience Class, Caregiver programs, and the Federal Skilled Worker program.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Intake through Provincial Nominee Programs will be halved to 55,000 in 2025 and will maintain that level until 2027. This reduction significantly limits the opportunities available through provincial immigration streams.

This means that the number of immigrants accepted through Provincial Nominee Programs will reduce in 2025 and will stay at that level until 2027. This cut will greatly decrease the chances for people to immigrate through these provincial programs.

Family Reunification Programs

Family reunification programs will also see a notable reduction. The plan includes cutting 20,000 family reunification visas in 2025, bringing the total down from 118,000 to 98,000.

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INC reports that this change may face backlash from advocates for family immigration, who argue that family reunification is a vital aspect of immigration policy.

Refugee programs and temporary residents

The refugee program is also set to face reductions, although these numbers may fluctuate based on changing asylum claims and refugee applications.

Reports inform that for the first time, the government will set official targets for temporary residents, aiming to reduce applications by nearly 30,000 in 2025, bringing the total to just over 300,000.

It is noted that the Trudeau administration’s decision to cut immigration targets reflects both public sentiment and practical economic realities.

‘Following a recent Liberal caucus meeting, MPs expressed concerns over the popularity of the government’s policies, particularly as immigration becomes a contentious political issue in Canada,’ INC reports.

It means that after a recent meeting among Liberal Party members, some Members of Parliament raised worries about how popular the government’s policies are. This is especially relevant as immigration has become a divisive political topic in Canada.

Political implications

With a federal election scheduled for October 2025, the government is reported to be adjusting its stance in response to increasing public pressure.

According to INC, the reduction in immigration levels indicates a notable shift in the Liberal government’s policy, moving away from the ambitious targets set in previous years.

More reports noted relate that critics from opposition parties and the public have voiced concerns about the rapid pace of population growth. The government’s decision to reduce immigration is likely a strategic move to regain voter trust as the election approaches.

The administration hopes that a more measured immigration strategy will alleviate the housing crisis, reduce strain on public services, and address rising unemployment. However, the long-term effects of these policy changes on Canada’s economy and demographics remain uncertain.

Canada to announce reduction in immigration levels today

International

Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs

Published

5 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs

BEIRUT: Israeli strikes pounded a densely-populated part of the Lebanese capital and its southern suburbs on Tuesday, hours ahead of an anticipated announcement of a ceasefire ending hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

A strike on Beirut hit the Noueiri district with no evacuation warning and killed at least one person, Lebanon’s health ministry said in a preliminary toll.

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Minutes later, at least 10 Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs. They began approximately 30 minutes after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for 20 locations in the area, the largest such warning yet.

As the strikes were under way, Israel’s military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a “widespread attack” on Hezbollah targets across the city.

Israeli strikes pound central Beirut, suburbs

ARAB NEWS

International

Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him

Published

6 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Trends Admin

President-elect Donald Trump

Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has fiercely criticised the legal cases brought against him, calling them “empty and lawless”.

He accused Democrats of weaponising the judicial system to target him as a political opponent.

In a strongly worded statement, Trump alleged that over $100 million in taxpayer money had been wasted in what he described as a politically driven effort to undermine his influence.

“Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before,” he said, pointing to high-profile prosecutors, including Georgia’s Fani Willis and New York Attorney General Letitia James, as key figures in what he called a “political hijacking.”

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Trump also accused Willis of colluding with Nathan Wade, whom he described as “her lover” and lacking the experience to handle such cases.

He claimed Wade was paid “millions,” allegedly enabling lavish trips and cruises.

Letitia James, who is pursuing a civil fraud case against Trump, was also criticised.

Over $100m wasted, Trump mocks Democrats for targeting him

International

US-based Nigerians get 30-year sentence over $3.5m romance scam

Published

6 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Trends Admin

US-based Nigerians get 30-year sentence over $3.5m romance scam

A United States federal jury sentenced two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, to 30 years in prison for scamming certain US citizens $3,500,000.

This was mentioned in a news statement made public on the US Department of Justice website on Monday.

According to the statement, the Nigerians, Ibekie and Aniukwu mislead their victims by informing them that they had received big inheritances that required payment to claim.

The couple would then ask their victims to transfer money, promising to refund them after the inheritances were claimed.

It also stated that the duo carried out romance scams by establishing romantic relationships with their victims and demanding them to send money after they had built trust in their victims.

It read, “An undercover law enforcement investigation has resulted in federal prison sentences for two Nigerian nationals residing in the Chicago suburbs who conducted online inheritance scams and other fraud schemes.

“Using aliases, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu communicated with victims throughout the United States, convincing them they had received substantial inheritances and needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it.

“In addition to the inheritance scam, the pair carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient. Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a ‘business email compromise’ scam that targeted corporate email accounts.

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“The fraud schemes were uncovered by a covert law enforcement investigation. The scams resulted in losses to victims of at least $3.5 million.”

According to the statement, after being arraigned on 14 charges, the duo pleaded guilty to their different alterations.

Following their guilty pleas, Ibekie was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday, and Aniukwu was sentenced to 10 years in prison on November 8.

The statement continued, “A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday sentenced Ibekie to 20 years in federal prison.

“Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois, pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Judge Seeger on Nov. 8, 2024, sentenced Aniukwu to 10 years in prison.”

Meanwhile, Jennifer Gosha, an accomplice of the Nigerians and a US citizen, is expected to be sentenced on December 18 after pleading guilty.

“A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on December 18, 2024,” the statement concluded.