Important Canada Immigration Crises Raised By Conservatives On Jan 16

Last Updated On 16 January 2026, 7:03 PM EST (Toronto Time)

Today, Conservative Shadow Minister for Immigration Michelle Rempel Garner held a press conference on Parliament Hill today, outlining what she described as three urgent crises threatening Canada’s immigration system.

The Calgary MP called for immediate government action to address millions of temporary residents with expired visas, a surging asylum backlog, and concerns over lenient sentencing for non-citizens convicted of serious crimes.

Crisis 1: Millions Face Expired Temporary Status

Rempel Garner highlighted that millions of people currently residing in Canada hold temporary permits that have either expired or will expire in 2026.

She criticized the Liberal government for lacking a credible removal plan while simultaneously planning to issue hundreds of thousands of additional temporary resident permits this year.

The shadow minister noted that approximately 500,000 undocumented individuals are currently in the country, creating what she called an “uncompassionate and disturbing” situation for both temporary residents and Canadians facing housing shortages, healthcare system strain, and youth unemployment.

“Temporary has to mean temporary,” Rempel Garner stated, calling on the government to table a comprehensive enforcement plan by the end of January detailing how they intend to ensure compliance with existing immigration law.

She also criticized the government’s failure to implement an exit tracking system before admitting millions of temporary residents and for not reforming the asylum system to reduce incentives for visa overstays.

Crisis 2: Asylum Backlog Reaches Historic Levels

Canada’s pending asylum claims reached an unprecedented 300,000 cases in December 2025, up from fewer than 10,000 in 2015.

The backlog now exceeds the population of Windsor, Ontario, with most claimants able to remain in Canada for years before their cases are examined while receiving social benefits.

The Conservative MP warned that the situation could worsen dramatically following February 3, 2026, when approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals in the United States face termination of their Temporary Protected Status.

Historical data shows that when Haitians previously faced TPS revocation, Canada experienced a significant surge in illegal border crossings and asylum claims.

Between 2017 and 2024, approximately 40,000 Haitians made asylum claims in Canada after crossing from the United States.

In 2025 alone, nearly 12,000 such claims were filed. Rempel Garner expressed concern that this number could increase substantially after the February deadline.

She identified a major loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement, which allows illegal crossers to claim asylum if they have relatives in Canada.

The current definition includes spouses, common-law partners, children of any age, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews—even if those family members only have pending asylum claims themselves.

“This enables chains of potentially bogus asylum claims amid prolonged processing and rare removals,” Rempel Garner stated.

The Conservative Party is calling for urgent cooperation with the United States to narrow the family definition to match Canada’s standard for family class immigration, which limits it to spouses, common-law or conjugal partners, dependent children generally under 22, parents, and grandparents.

Conservatives are also pushing for rigorous enforcement of anti-trafficking provisions and, if illegal crossings continue to surge, examination of section 20.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to designate certain nationals crossing illegally from the US as irregular group arrivals.

Additionally, Rempel Garner called for the government to honor commitments to persecuted groups already in Canada from Ukraine, Hong Kong, and Sudan by pausing acceptance of new government-assisted refugees and reallocating those spots to eligible individuals already present.

Crisis 3: Two-Tier Justice System for Non-Citizens

The shadow minister raised concerns about what she characterized as a growing pattern of non-citizens convicted of serious crimes receiving lenient sentences specifically to avoid deportation consequences.

Recent cases cited include a truck driver who recklessly killed a 23-year-old woman, receiving only 55 days in jail.

A man convicted of child sexual abuse material possession was given six months less a day explicitly to avoid immigration consequences, and a man who pleaded guilty to abducting a nine-year-old boy requesting similar leniency.

“This situation is perpetuating a two-tier justice system in Canada wherein non-citizens are treated differently than Canadian citizens,” Rempel Garner stated, calling for rapid passage of Bill C-20, her private member’s bill designed to end this practice.

Questions on Emergencies Act, China Relations, and Leadership

When asked about the Federal Court of Appeal’s ruling that the Liberal government did not have reasonable grounds to invoke the Emergencies Act during the 2022 convoy protest, Rempel Garner said it

“gives me an opportunity to emphasize how wrong that the use of the Emergencies Act was and I think how it undermined Canadians’ trust that the government would uphold Canadian civil liberties.”

Regarding Mark Carney’s recent business dealings with China after previously calling the country “the biggest threat to Canada.”

Rempel Garner directed attention to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s statement and expressed concern that no auto sector jobs were delivered.

She also called for the Liberal government to protect Canadian sovereignty by implementing a foreign agent registry and addressing concerns such as regime police stations operating in major Canadian cities.

When asked about Conservative Party unity following two floor crossers, Rempel Garner dismissed the question as “ridiculous,” emphasizing instead the impact of Liberal policies on her Calgary constituents, particularly punitive energy sector regulations.

China Promises Visa-Free Access for Canadians

In related international developments, China has pledged to allow visa-free access for Canadian travellers as part of broader efforts to expand diplomatic and economic ties.

The announcement comes amid ongoing discussions between Canadian and Chinese officials about strengthening bilateral relations.

The visa-free arrangement would significantly ease travel between the two countries, though specific implementation timelines and conditions have not yet been finalized.

Critics, including Conservative MPs, have raised questions about the timing of such agreements given ongoing security concerns regarding Chinese influence operations in Canada.

EV Tariffs and Trade Tensions

While not directly addressed in the press conference, Canada continues to navigate complex trade dynamics, particularly regarding electric vehicle tariffs and broader economic relations with major trading partners.

These discussions remain ongoing as the government balances environmental objectives with economic competitiveness concerns.

The Conservative Party has indicated it will continue to pressure the Liberal government on these immigration policy matters when the House of Commons resumes its session, building upon the comprehensive suite of policy proposals announced last fall.

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon moved to Canada in 2010 on a study visa. She navigated through the ups and downs of her student life and gained her permanent residency in 2015. Today, she is a proud Canadian citizen residing in Calgary, Alberta. She is mother of 2 beautiful daughters and making her difference through writing and guidance at INC – Immigration News Canada.