Canada’s immigration landscape is increasingly under pressure as processing times and application backlogs swell in the wake of significant job cuts at the Immigration Department. With an additional 300 positions slated for elimination, concerns are mounting over the department’s capacity to manage its workload effectively.
Job Cuts Contribute to Application Delays
Helen King, a seasoned officer at the Immigration Department since 1993 and an executive with the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU), has witnessed the detrimental effects of staffing reductions firsthand. Following the announcement in January 2025 to cut 3,300 positions—over 20 per cent of the workforce—King anticipated that processing times would inevitably lengthen, given the existing challenges faced by the department.
“The warning signs were there,” King remarked. “If we’re losing people, how do they think we’re going to meet the processing times?”
Indeed, a year later, the evidence supports her concerns. The number of applications awaiting processing has surged by 2.6 per cent, now standing at 2,130,700, while those exceeding the department’s own service standards have risen by 12.7 per cent to 1,005,800. Particularly alarming is the backlog of citizenship applications, which has increased from 17 per cent to 23 per cent, and the number of refugee claims pending a decision, which has risen to 300,163.
Further Cuts and Their Implications
The situation is set to worsen, as a recent memo indicated another 300 job cuts planned over the next three years. This reduction comes on the heels of a shift in federal budget strategy aimed at decreasing the number of public servants, despite Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab asserting that staffing levels would remain unaffected.
In 2025, the government also reduced intake levels for both permanent and temporary residents, responding to public concerns over the pace of population growth. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) reported that over 5,300 members received “workforce adjustment” notices, signalling potential job losses.
The Immigration Department maintains that the lengthy processing times are not solely a function of staffing levels, attributing delays to the growing and increasingly complex nature of applications. “Demand to come to Canada continues to grow, increasing both the number and complexity of applications,” a department statement read.
Union Concerns and Employee Burnout
The CEIU has been actively monitoring the fallout from last year’s cuts and has conducted surveys among its immigration members, revealing consistent feedback that job reductions are leading to overwhelming workloads and backlogs. Staff report heightened stress and burnout levels, with turnover increasing and service quality deteriorating.
One respondent highlighted the lack of guidance following administrative staff reductions, stating, “Now we are tasked to figure everything out, do admin work plus our own work with no guidance.” Another lamented the lack of communication within the department, where performance targets remain unchanged despite significant operational challenges.
To mitigate the growing backlog, the department has begun offering overtime and hiring additional staff in certain offices, but these measures may not suffice given the scale of the cuts.
A Complicated Path Forward
Helen King, who became CEIU’s national executive vice-president in 2024, articulated the frustrations of her colleagues, who feel perpetually overworked and under-resourced, often struggling with outdated technology. “They just feel like a hamster on a wheel,” she said, reflecting the ongoing challenges within the department.
The Immigration Department has promised to handle the workforce adjustments with compassion and fairness, yet specific details remain sparse, leaving employees and stakeholders concerned about the future of Canada’s immigration system.
Why it Matters
The implications of these job cuts extend beyond bureaucratic inefficiency; they threaten the very fabric of Canada’s immigration system, which many rely upon for stability and opportunity. As backlogs grow, the ability of individuals to secure their rightful place in Canada hangs in the balance, potentially impacting the nation’s economic vitality and social cohesion. The situation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policy reassessment to ensure that Canada can meet its immigration goals while maintaining operational integrity.
