Labour unions, including the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU), have criticized these cuts. Employees will learn their fate by mid-February, with the IRCC stating that the reductions will impact various sectors across both domestic and international branches of the agency.

The IRCC cited its previous pandemic-driven expansion and the need to align staffing with reduced immigration levels and permanent funding as the reasons behind the cuts. These job losses are part of a broader strategy to reduce government spending to pre-pandemic levels, with the federal budget proposing a $15 billion USD reduction over four years.

The job cuts come amid rising concerns about Canada’s immigration system, particularly in relation to the growing number of Indian immigrants. India has become the largest source country for immigrants to Canada, with Indian immigration to Canada rising by 326% from 2013 to 2023. The increased job cuts are expected to exacerbate delays in immigration processing, adding further strain to an already overburdened system.

Unions have expressed that these cuts will significantly impact vulnerable populations, leaving thousands of workers uncertain about their job security. As discussions intensify online, there is growing concern about the implications of these cuts on both the immigration system and Canada’s economy.

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Freeland emphasized the need for Canada to retaliate strategically, saying, “Our counterpunch must be dollar-for-dollar and precisely targeted.” The proposal comes amid ongoing tensions as Trump has repeatedly referred to the US trade deficit with Canada, a nation rich in natural resources, as a subsidy.

Canada is a key export market for 36 US states, with nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods crossing the border each day. However, John Ries, senior associate dean at the University of British Columbia, cautioned against publicizing such a list in advance, suggesting it could provoke Trump and make it more difficult for him to back off from his tariff threats.

Freeland also pledged that, if elected, she would prevent American companies from bidding on Canadian federal procurement contracts (excluding defense). She intends to convene an international summit with leaders from Mexico, Denmark, Panama, and the EU to discuss joint responses to challenges to sovereignty and economic stability.

While some lawmakers have proposed cutting energy shipments to the US, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith opposed this idea. Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, another Liberal leadership contender, also suggested cutting Quebec’s hydro exports to the US as a possible response.

Freeland’s recent resignation as finance minister led to Trudeau’s announcement that he would step down as Prime Minister once a new Liberal leader is chosen on March 9. With opposition parties vowing to bring down the minority government, a federal election is expected this spring.

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Born to Punjabi immigrants in Winnipeg, Dhalla has a diverse background, including a career in beauty pageants, acting, and entrepreneurship. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Prior to politics, she worked as a chiropractor and even starred in the Bollywood-inspired film ‘Kyon? Kis Liye?’.

Dhalla served as a Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2011, becoming the first Indian-origin woman to serve three consecutive terms. Now, she is looking to break new ground as Canada’s first woman of color to serve as Prime Minister.

In her video message on X, Dhalla expressed gratitude and emphasized the historic nature of her campaign to become the first woman of color to lead the country. Her political journey also saw her ranked in the top spots for attractiveness, including being named the third-sexiest female MP in a 2008 poll by Hill Times.

Apart from politics, Dhalla is the CEO and President of the Dhalla Group of Companies. She also made headlines as a 10-year-old when she wrote a letter to then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, expressing her concerns about the violence during Operation Blue Star. Gandhi responded personally and invited Dhalla to visit India, though she was assassinated before that could happen.

As part of her leadership campaign, Dhalla pledged to take a hard stance on immigration. She stated, “As Prime Minister, I will deport illegal immigrants and clamp down on human traffickers.” This promise has placed immigration reform at the forefront of her platform, drawing both praise and criticism.

Dhalla faces significant competition from other high-profile figures, such as Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland. Despite this, she is determined to offer a fresh approach and has outlined a vision of returning the Liberal Party to the center with practical solutions to Canada’s challenges. The winner of the Liberal Party leadership race will be announced on March 9.

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“The PIFI was not mandated to investigate Nijjar’s murder,” the High Commission stated. The statement emphasized that determining accountability for the murder remains a matter for the courts, as the investigation continues.

Tensions between Canada and India escalated in September 2023 when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested the involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s death on Canadian soil. India strongly denied these allegations, calling them “absurd.” Diplomatic relations worsened when Ottawa implicated several Indian diplomats, including High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, in the murder. India responded by recalling Verma and expelling several Canadian diplomats, while Canada expelled Indian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler.

The PIFI report also mentioned China, Russia, and India as countries allegedly involved in interfering with Canada’s electoral processes. However, India rejected these claims, accusing Canada of interfering in India’s internal matters. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated that Canada’s actions have led to illegal migration and organized crime, calling out Canada’s alleged role in spreading disinformation against India.

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Trudeau pointed out that the tariffs violated the free trade agreement and warned of significant consequences for the American people. The Canadian tariffs will be enforced in phases, with an immediate 25% duty on C$30 billion worth of American products, followed by additional tariffs on C$125 billion worth of goods in 21 days. Trudeau mentioned that non-tariff measures related to energy, critical minerals, and other areas were being considered.

The trade tensions escalated after Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada, while energy products from Canada would be taxed at 10%. The order also included a provision to raise tariffs if any retaliatory measures were taken by these countries. This decision could potentially lead to economic fallout, particularly with the US’s largest trading partners.

Trudeau emphasized that this trade conflict would have consequences for workers and people on both sides of the border. He reiterated that Canada had not wanted to reach this point but would not back down from defending Canadian interests.

In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also announced retaliatory tariffs and condemned the US actions. She emphasized Mexico’s strength and rejected US accusations. China has similarly vowed to counter the US measures to protect its own interests.

The tariffs are part of Trump’s broader strategy, fulfilling campaign promises to tackle issues like illegal immigration and the flow of drugs such as fentanyl. Trump had previously warned Mexico and Canada of such actions, saying they would need to take responsibility for these concerns or face significant penalties.

Trump’s decision to implement these tariffs risks exacerbating the trade conflict with Canada and Mexico, potentially leading to higher inflation and further economic disruptions.

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Under the new tariffs, goods from Canada and Mexico face a 25% tax, with a 10% tariff on Canadian energy products. China’s goods are subjected to a 10% tariff. The White House justified the tariffs by citing the need to hold these nations accountable for their roles in the flow of illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the United States.

In response, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau imposing a 25% tax on $155 billion of US imports. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and China’s government also vowed countermeasures, leading to fears of a broader economic conflict.

The tariffs reflect Trump’s ongoing efforts to protect American industries and combat illegal drug trafficking, aligning with his campaign promises to secure the nation’s borders and address public health crises.

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Initially, in December 2023, the central government had allowed duty-free imports of yellow peas until March 2024. Since then, the timeline has been extended multiple times, first to April, then June, followed by October, and now continuing until February 2025. This decision is part of the government’s broader efforts to manage and control the prices of pulses in the domestic market.

India first imposed a 50% duty on yellow peas in November 2017. Since then, the country has heavily relied on imports, with Canada and Russia being the primary suppliers of yellow peas to India.

Despite being one of the largest consumers and producers of pulses globally, India continues to depend on imports to meet its domestic needs. The country’s pulse consumption largely includes varieties such as chana, masur, urad, kabuli chana, and tur. However, production has not kept pace with the rising demand, leading to a surge in imports. In fact, pulses imports nearly doubled in 2023-24, reaching a total value of USD 3.74 billion.

Although India has made significant strides in increasing pulses production—from 16.3 million tonnes in 2015-16 to 24.5 million tonnes in 2023-24—the growth in production has not been sufficient to meet the increasing domestic demand. To bridge the gap, India imports pulses from several countries, including Myanmar, Australia, Russia, Canada, and certain African nations.

This continued reliance on imports, despite the rise in domestic production, highlights the challenges India faces in meeting the growing demand for pulses. The government’s ongoing interventions, such as the extension of duty-free imports, are aimed at keeping prices under control and ensuring that the country has access to sufficient supplies of yellow peas and other pulse varieties.

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