In a surprising turn of events, the landscape of immigration from India to Canada has seen a significant downturn, with a staggering 62% decrease in applications for permanent residency in December 2023 compared to the previous year. This substantial drop, as reported by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has raised eyebrows and prompted speculation about the underlying causes.
Throughout the final quarter of 2023, the decline in applications from Indian nationals remained palpable, plummeting from 35,735 to 19,579. Various factors seem to have converged to produce this unexpected shift, chief among them being the strained relations between New Delhi and Ottawa.
The spark igniting this diplomatic friction can be traced back to remarks made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September of the preceding year. Trudeau’s assertion in the House of Commons regarding alleged connections between Indian agents and the demise of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar raised eyebrows and drew ire from Indian authorities.
The repercussions of these strained bilateral ties became evident in the dwindling numbers of immigration applications, particularly during the October-December period. The marked increase in previous months, notably in September, starkly contrasts with the decline witnessed towards the year’s end.
Compounding this diplomatic tension is the reduced diplomatic presence of Canada in India, following New Delhi’s decision to curtail the number of Canadian diplomats within its borders. This move, described by Ottawa as a “mass expulsion,” included a downsizing of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada staff in the country.
Commenting on this downward trend, Better Dwelling highlighted the erosion of Canada’s relationships with key immigrant source countries as a significant contributing factor. This decline has cast a shadow over Canada’s ambitious immigration targets for the coming years.
