Conservative Shadow Minister for Immigration Michelle Rempel Garner has renewed calls for the Liberal Government to abandon virtual citizenship ceremonies and return to in-person events.
Rempel Garner criticized the current system, where over half of new Canadians take their citizenship oath online, describing it as inadequate for such a significant milestone.
She argued that in-person ceremonies represent the unifying foundation of Canadian civic life and should be treated with the same gravity as other life-changing commitments.
The Conservatives maintain that restoring traditional ceremonies would help rebuild public confidence in Canada's immigration system, as support has reached historic lows.
#conservatives, #citizenship_ceremonies, #michelle_rempel_garner, #citizenship_canada
December 5, 2025
On December 2, 2025, the Government of Prince Edward Island tabled its 2024–2025 annual report on the French Language Services Act, highlighting the province’s ongoing efforts to expand and strengthen French-language services.
The report shows a notable increase in bilingual capacity within the public service, with the number of bilingual employees rising from 387 to 425, and 162 serving in designated bilingual positions.
This growth reflects a broader provincial commitment to improving service accessibility for Acadian and Francophone residents.
The government also introduced a new “Bonjour Day” initiative to enhance French-language skills among frontline staff.
Additionally, three new designated French-language services were added in education and culture, bringing the total to 43.
The province is considering declaring August as Acadian Heritage Month and is exploring a cooperation agreement with Québec to support cultural and linguistic collaboration.
#PEI, #french_language_services, #francophone_community, #official_languages, #bilingual_services
December 4, 2025
Canada's immigration framework currently categorizes all spouses and common-law partners of principal applicants as "dependants," regardless of their actual financial contributions.
Research from Statistics Canada and immigration economists reveals that many accompanying partners possess qualifications equal to or exceeding those of principal applicants, with some serving as primary household earners.
This blanket terminology reinforces outdated gender stereotypes and fails to recognize the economic independence of highly skilled migrant spouses.
Immigration experts suggest simple reforms, such as distinguishing "dependent" from "accompanying" partners or adopting terms like "secondary applicant," could better reflect modern family realities and support more equitable immigrant integration outcomes across Canada.
#canada_immigration, #migrant_spouses, #gender_equality, #ircc, #migrant_rights
December 3, 2025
An extensive investigation has uncovered disturbing patterns of exploitation affecting nearly 80,000 temporary foreign workers in Canada's agricultural sector.
These workers, who harvest the produce that reaches Canadian tables, face wage theft, unsafe working conditions, inadequate housing, and in some cases, physical and sexual abuse.
The Investigative Journalism Bureau's findings, supported by Simon Fraser University research, reveal that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program's structure, particularly employer-specific work permits, creates conditions where vulnerable labourers have limited recourse against mistreatment.
Despite contributing significantly to Canada's food production system, these workers often earn minimum wage while enduring long hours, chemical exposure, and substandard living conditions, with only 6% achieving permanent residency.
#migrant_workers, #temporary_foreign_workers, #agricultural_labour, #worker_exploitation, #canada_immigration, #labour_rights, #workplace_abuse, #farm_workers, #human_rights
December 3, 2025
