MONTREAL — The federal Liberal Party government of Mark Carney is leading a new round of attacks against immigrant workers in Canada, with political leaders at all levels of government following its lead. These attacks are meeting significant opposition from working people.
The goal of the ruling Canadian capitalist families is not to stop immigration. They need cheaper immigrant labor to boost profits. Today’s attacks are aimed at two key goals — one, to create a pariah layer of workers with less legal protection who can be superexploited, and, two, to set immigrant workers and workers in Canada with papers against each other, to divide and weaken the working class. They see this as more important today, as competition among bosses within Canada and between Ottawa and its rivals abroad is deepening, especially with Washington.
Deportations are increasing with a reported 23,160 deported in 2025, the highest in years. After Law C-12, called the “Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act,” was adopted by Parliament March 26, the government sent out 30,000 letters telling immigrants they could be asked to leave the country.
As a result of the government’s stepped-up attacks, Canada’s population has fallen for the third consecutive quarter, from 41.6 million to 41.4 million. The total number of temporary residents in the country is 2.56 million. An estimated half a million workers are undocumented.
On March 27, a broad coalition of immigrant rights organizations, unions and civil liberties groups issued a statement saying, “Bill C-12 sets the current and future governments on a dangerous path by limiting the ability to seek refugee protection in Canada, enabling the mass cancellation of immigration documents and applications, and facilitating the sharing of personal information within and outside the country. Bill C-12 will put thousands of individuals at risk of persecution, violence and precarity.”
Immigrant Portage College students and their supporters have begun protests in Calgary and Edmonton after their work permits were denied, despite the fact they had been assured by the authorities this wouldn’t happen. On Aug. 12 cops called in agents of Canada Border Services to interrogate students at their protest in Calgary. Ten received expulsion orders.
An open letter protesting this outrageous attack and calling for the immediate suspension of the expulsion orders has been issued by a number of prominent organizations and unions, including Amnesty International Canada, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees, and the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. Coordinated demonstrations have been set for Sept. 20 by immigrant rights groups in cities across Canada to protest the growing attacks.
Attack on English-speaking students
In August, Quebec’s Ministry of Education ordered the administration of College LaSalle in Montreal to close the school down because of nonpayment of close to 30 million Canadian dollars ($21.6 million) in fines plus CA$18 million more for “overpaid” subsidies. The fines were levied because the ministry said the college was violating Law 14, a discriminatory act that imposes limits on the number of students who can be enrolled in English-language programs.
After students and teachers there organized protests against the order, the college was given a one-year extension. Several students told the Militant Sept. 8 they thought the anti-English policy was aimed at creating divisions among them.
“I feel ecstatic. I’m just super happy,” Dominique Goulet, a second-year fashion design student, told the media outside the courthouse when the extension was granted. “I’m ready to fight again next year if we need to.”
“The unity of the working class, regardless of where we are born, is a life-and-death question. Our unions need to come together and act on this.” As the Communist League candidate for Quebec’s National Assembly in the St. Laurent riding and a member of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers union, I told the press, “I encourage the biggest participation possible in the Sept. 20 rallies. Permanent residency for all! End all deportations!”