Travel News

….Opening new trade, tourism tinks

Uganda Airlines has launched direct flights between Entebbe and Abuja, offering a new route that significantly cuts travel time and costs between the two nations.

The new service, which commenced on September 12, provides twice-weekly flights from Entebbe International Airport to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, marking a milestone in the growing relationship between Uganda and Nigeria.

The direct flight service takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, a contrast to the previous indirect routes that could take up to 14 hours.

The new route complements Uganda Airlines’ existing service to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, which was launched last year.

According to Nelson Ocheger, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, this development will strengthen the ties between East and West Africa, facilitating not only the movement of people but also goods and services. He noted that the route would ease travel, reduce costs, and boost the volume of trade between the two countries.

“The direct flight will facilitate the movement of cargo and reduce transport costs. This will ultimately increase trade, benefit businesses, and generate more employment opportunities for people in both countries,”  Ocheger said.

The high commissioner stated that before the launch of this service, travellers between Uganda and Nigeria often had to connect through other East African countries or make layovers in Lagos, making the journey long and cumbersome. He said that the new route eliminates this inconvenience, streamlining travel for both business and leisure purposes.

Ocheger explained that the launch is expected to have a positive impact on several sectors, including tourism, education, and trade. With Uganda attracting Nigerian students, particularly in science courses, and Nigeria being a key market for Ugandan products, the direct flights will help strengthen these ties.

He noted also that the tourism sectors of both countries stand to benefit from increased visitor numbers.

Uganda Airlines has set introductory fares for the route, with economy tickets priced at $600 and business class tickets at $1,665. These rates are expected to encourage more travellers to take advantage of the new connection.

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, who was represented by Hassan Ejibunu, Director of Air Transport Management in the Ministry, stated that aviation remains the best way for Africa to connect her people and promote inter-Africa business.

“This is a memorable day for the government because it is in our interest for African leaders and Africans to connect. This will ease the movement of people and freight cargo, with only 3 hours, and 30 minutes.

“Before now, when you travel to Uganda, you first of all go to Lagos. From Lagos, you connect your flight, maybe to another East African country like Kenya, Then, you have to do a layover before you now connect to Uganda.

“All that may take about 14 hours, but it’s now taking only just three hours. We have to thank the leadership of both countries, for creating the environment, enabling the two countries to connect. We call on Nigerians and we call on Ugandans to utilize this opportunity,” he stated

He also highlighted the importance of the new route in fostering regional cooperation and noted that the direct flights align with the African Union’s goal of enhancing intra-Africa connectivity through the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative.

Ministers of both countries expressed optimism about the future, anticipating that the direct flights will deepen bilateral relations.

On his part, Fred Byamukama, Uganda’s Minister of State for Transport, emphasized that the service comes at a time when both nations are working to enhance their economic cooperation.

“This direct flight means reduced time and increased opportunities for trade and tourism. It will greatly benefit the economies of Uganda and Nigeria and promote stronger ties between the two regions,” Byamukama remarked.

He added that the direct flights also come as Uganda Airlines celebrates its fifth anniversary, which is a testament to the airline’s expanding regional presence. According to him, the carrier is now operating on 14 routes, with Abuja being one of its newest connections.

As both Uganda and Nigeria continue to work together on bilateral agreements and regional integration efforts, the direct flight between Entebbe and Abuja is seen as a key component in strengthening cooperation and facilitating the free movement of people, goods, and services across Africa.

BY Ngozi Ekugo 

The number of new study permit applications processed by the Canadian government decreased by 54 percent in Q2 2024 compared to Q2 2023.

According to an analysis by ApplyBoard, a Canadian educational technology platform, the number of applications processed is also projected to decline by 39 percent year on year in 2024.

These mid-year figures indicate that student demand is shifting away from Canada due to confusion surrounding the new policy changes introduced this year. Even Canadian post-secondary programmes not subject to the cap are experiencing lower demand, as ApplyBoard has observed.

According to the analysis, the overall reduction in permits processed during the first half of 2024 is partly due to students pausing or deferring their applications, and others shifting to alternative destinations.

Research by Studyportals also shows that the United States, Germany, Italy, and other countries are attracting students away from Canada, as well as from Australia and the UK. This was evidenced as the platform indicated a 20 percent drop in global searches for “study in Canada” this year compared to 2023.

Mark Miller, the Canadian immigration minister announced earlier in the year the two-year cap on new study permits. Explaining, he said that:

“For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 364,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35 percent from [the number of study permits issued in] 2023.”

“In Q1 2024, applications decreased by 26% year-over-year for programs affected by the study permit caps. Cap-exempt programs (master’s and doctoral degree programs) also saw a [year-over-year] dip of 21 percent.

ApplyBoard’s projection for the full year 2024 indicates a 50 percent reduction in study permits for capped post-secondary programmes (e.g., undergraduate courses) and a 24 percent decrease for cap-exempt programmes (e.g., graduate-level courses)

“For 2024, the cap is expected to result in approximately 364,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35 percent from [the number of study permits issued in] 2023.”

“In Q1 2024, applications decreased by 26% year-over-year for programs affected by the study permit caps. Cap-exempt programs (master’s and doctoral degree programs) also saw a [year-over-year] dip of 21 percent.

ApplyBoard’s projection for the full year 2024 indicates a 50 percent reduction in study permits for capped post-secondary programmes (e.g., undergraduate courses) and a 24 percent decrease for cap-exempt programmes (e.g., graduate-level courses)

By Damilola Aina

The number of Nigerians with National Identification Numbers has increased to 110 million, the National Identity Management Commission has disclosed.

This is a 2.39 per cent increase from the 107.34 million that was recorded as of the end of May 2024.

The Commission’s Director General Abisoye Coker-Odusote, disclosed the new figure at an ongoing event to commemorate the sixth edition of the National Day of Identity themed, “Digital Public Infrastructure: Enabling Access to Services” on Monday in Abuja.

She stated that this accomplishment results from the strategic plan implemented by the current NIMC management, highlighting that the role of DPI has become indispensable to Nigeria’s economic development.

Tiemoko Diallo and Boureima Balima

BAMAKO, (Reuters) – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will introduce new biometric passports as part of their withdrawal from a West African bloc in favour of a new Sahel alliance after military leaders seized power in all three countries, Mali’s leader said on Sunday.

The three junta-led Sahel neighbours jointly announced in January they would leave the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has sought to persuade them to reconsider their decision.

Burkina Faso announced earlier this month that it was rolling out new passports without the ECOWAS logo.

“In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonising travel documents in our common area and facilitating the mobility of our citizens throughout the world”, Malian junta leader Assimi Goita announced on Sunday evening.

He spoke ahead of a meeting Monday between the three countries’ foreign ministers on the anniversary of the decision to form their own alliance.

Goita also said they were planning to launch a shared information channel “in order to promote a harmonious dissemination of information in our three states.”

ECOWAS has warned that the three countries’ withdrawal would undermine the freedom of movement and common market of the 400 million people living in the 49-year-old bloc.

Their departure comes as their armies battle groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, whose insurgencies have destabilised the region over the past decade and threaten to spill over into coastal West African states.

(Reporting by Tiemoko Diallo and Boureima Balima in Niamey; Writing by Portia Crowe; Editing by Sandra Maler)

By Olasunkanmi Akinlotan

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, recently wrote a diplomatic letter to the United Kingdom aviation handlers requesting landing slots for Air Peace, at the UK’s Choice airport in Heathrow. These requests sparked discussions in the industry, OLASUNKANMI AKINLOTAN x-rays the matter

The media has been filled with reports about the protest letter written by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to his British counterpart. The letter was written to lodge a formal complaint about the UK airport authority’s refusal to allow the Nigerian Air Peace to land at Heathrow Airport.

In a letter dated August 1, 2024, and addressed to Louise Haigh, the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Keyamo warned that if Air Peace was not allocated a space at London Heathrow, Nigeria would be forced to “reciprocate” by denying British Airways and Virgin Atlantic slots at the Lagos and Abuja airports.

Although Heathrow is the UK’s primary airport, Air Peace currently operates from Gatwick Airport, a secondary airport.

The UK’s Heathrow Airport could be compared to Nigeria’s Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, and Gatwick Airport, UK, may be likened to the Enugu International Airport.

Efforts by Air Peace to get a slot at Heathrow, which is closer to the heart of London, have been unsuccessful, PUNCH has learnt.

Meanwhile, Nigeria and the United Kingdom are both parties to a bilateral aviation safety agreement, an agreement that provides for Civil Aviation Certifications to be shared between the two countries.

This agreement is called the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement.

A BASA sets out obligations and methods for cooperation between the authorities to avoid unnecessary duplication of evaluation, and to facilitate the certification of aeronautical products by the civil aviation authorities.

A BASA, therefore, supports trade in aircraft and related products, while ensuring the highest levels of aviation safety.

This agreement also allows airport managers to provide equal landing privileges to aircraft from member countries in their domain.

Meanwhile, some industry stakeholders were of the view that the Nigeria-UK BASA agreement promoted designated city destinations rather than specific airports.

The stakeholder said Heathrow cannot be explicitly mentioned in the agreement as it falls outside the purview of the Department of Transport and given the UK government’s lack of involvement in airport slot allocation.

They advised Air Peace to address the issue independently and not escalate it.

Meanwhile, the diplomatic dispute between the two countries took another dimension when Airport Coordination Limited, the independent authority responsible for slot allocation in the UK, disclosed that Air Peace missed two critical deadlines while requesting landing slots.

The company claimed that Air Peace failed to submit its slot requests on time for the Northern Summer 2024 and Northern Winter 2024 scheduling seasons.

The missed deadlines, as disclosed by the slot allocator, have added a new layer of complexity to the situation, raising genuine concerns over the airline’s ability to gain a foothold at one of the world’s busiest airports.

A top officer in the airline, who preferred not to be mentioned considering the current diplomatic nature of the matter, told our correspondent that the airline was not happy with the refusal by the UK authority to allow Air Peace aircraft to land at Heathrow airport.

He noted that the airline would not want to dabble into the matter, adding, “It is important to note that we have done due diligence in ensuring that we get a slot, but they were claiming the crowd was too much for them. Only for us to now start hearing that they claimed that we did not apply for two seasons. The same you that initially claimed no slots were owing to the crowd?

“Just like I said earlier, we have done due diligence and we will continue to do what is right. We pray that God backs the minister to help us get the desired slots from them.”

However, the Nigerian government has continued to allow UK flag bearers to land in Nigeria’s primary airports even while aviation authorities in the UK remained adamant on the matter.

In reaction to the development, Keyamo, through his letter, expressed displeasure over the development.

The diplomatic correspondence, which was leaked to the media, reads partly saying, “The consistent denial of slot” by the UK slot office to Air Peace on the Nigeria-London route to fly into Heathrow, its first choice, since it began operations in the UK in March 2024.

“The airline had made consistent efforts in the past to fly into Heathrow Airport from Lagos but was denied, and only approved to fly into Gatwick Airport from Lagos.

“Following the approval granted the airline by the Nigerian government to fly the Abuja-London route, the airline approached the slot office for slot allocation at the London Heathrow Airport, for flight operations planned to commence in November 2024, during the IATA Winter Season. It is highly disheartening that up till this moment, the airline has not received any favourable response from the slot office.”

He reminded the UK that both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were operating into Nigeria’s primary airports in Lagos and Abuja without encumbrances placed in their ways.

British Airways has been flying into Lagos since 1936.

“Therefore, it is necessary for Nigerian designated carriers to enjoy similar reciprocity that British carriers are enjoying. It is highly unfair on the side of the British authorities and a discredit to the Nigerian authorities and the Nigerian nation as a whole, for slot allocation to Nigerian carriers to be an issue at all times. We feel betrayed by the British authorities for not reciprocating the good gesture of the Nigerian State and its people,” Keyamo wrote.

The minister told the UK airport authority not to allow the slot allocation issue to be an alibi to deny the existence of a bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, whose hallmark was based on the principle of reciprocity.

Following the minister’s threat, a junior staff member of Air Peace, who did not want to be mentioned because he was not in a capacity to speak for the company told our correspondent, “Obviously, the management is concerned by this development between the UK and Nigerian governments, but we are only taking solace in the possibility that the matter may be resolved before the deadline given.”

Also, when contacted, British Airways’ Regional Country Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, Adetutu Otuyalu, who was initially responding to chats from our correspondent, suddenly went mute after the question was posed to her.

Reactions

The President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria, Dr Kingsley Nwokoma, backed Keyamo, saying if UK airlines could enjoy Nigeria’s best airports, such privilege should also be reciprocated.

He also called for more diplomacy in resolving the matter.

His words, “If they are enjoying our best airport, since we do not have a national carrier, our current national flag carrier should be allowed to fly to their own best airports too.

“This is not rocket science. Both Nigeria and the UK are parties to BASA. So, why shouldn’t our flag carrier be allowed to land at their best airport?

“This once happened between Air Peace and the UAE and the Nigerian government sat with them and things were resolved so, I want to advise that the same tactics be employed to resolve this matter.”

Also, a commercial pilot with over 30 years of experience, Captain John Okakpu, lauded the minister’s decision to shut the landing space against both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic pending the provision of landing rights to Air Peace.

He recalled that the former military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, once shut airlines from the UK when they once disallowed the defunct Nigeria Airways from landing in the UK’s A’ class airport.

“If they refused to allow Air Peace to land in Heathrow, the minister should also banish the airlines to maybe Enugu or even Ibadan.

“Abacha stopped them from coming to our country at a time. They should also feel what we are feeling. Why should they have 21 frequencies to Nigeria and the less than seven we have, they won’t still allow us to complete it even as Nigeria’s flag carrier?  At least Arik is not as sophisticated as Air Peace and they go to Heathrow. What is the meaning of all these?

“Can you imagine what Nigerians go through when their cargoes get to Gatwick? They always have to transport it to Heathrow after paying so much for airlifting from their primary destination, which cannot continue. When passengers are going to the U.S. from Nigeria, they will be taken to Gatwick and then transported back to Heathrow before getting their connecting flight to the U.S. So why should Nigerians go through this unnecessary pain and extra spending?” he quizzed.

Ranking

Although Heathrow is now ranked 12th in the global ranking, slipping from its position at 8th in 2023, a survey by aviation analyst Cirium, which calculated the number of airports each hub served between January and June 2024, showed.

It comes despite the west London airport handling more passengers than any of its European competitors and offering over 4.5 million seats this month, according to OAG Aviation.

It was ranked the world’s fifth busiest airport last year.

Its ranking as best-connected has improved considerably in recent years, as pre-pandemic records revealed the west London hub stood in 18th position, according to the Independent.

In the first half of 2024, it served 221 locations, while London Gatwick Airport served 218 and has been positioned 14th.

It trails Heathrow by two spots despite serving half of the passengers Heathrow does.

In the list whittled down from airports worldwide, Istanbul emerged on top with some 309 destinations on offer. Most are on Turkish Airlines, the carrier with the most extensive route network in the world.

It is followed by Istanbul Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol, with 296, 282 and 270 locations on their departure screens, respectively.

The only other European airport in the top 10 and  10th position is Rome Fiumicino, with 234 locations.

Meanwhile, Chicago O’Hare is the top non-European airport listed, serving 270 airports next to Dubai International, which serves 269 airports.

Dallas-Fort Worth, Shanghai Pudong and Atlanta occupy seventh, eighth and ninth place in the table, respectively.

By Ochogwu Sunday

Residents of Abuja living at Mpape in Bwari Area Council have been thrown into panic over continued suspected tremors and vibration in parts of the area.

Dr Ebenezer Adebisi, the Chairman, Mpape Hills Landlord Association, told NAN on Tuesday that the residents had been experiencing the vibration in the last five days.

Adebisi, who is a retired Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said that was not the first time the residents of the area were having such an experience.

He said although it happened some years ago, it had become more consistent in the past five days.

According to him, residents of the area feel the tremors and vibrations were more than the usual ones they experience during the blasting of rocks in the area by quarry companies.

He said the vibration was more intense throughout Sunday and Monday night,

“We don’t really know what would have caused the vibration.

“I have also confirmed that those in the Gwarinpa and Katampe areas are also experiencing the same thing but the government has not said anything officially up till now.

“It is important we let Nigerians know the situation now; we are calling on the Nigerian government and the Nigeria Geological Agency to come to the rescue of the resident.”

He said urgent measures needed to be taken before things got out of hand, urging the government to advise the residents on the next line of action.

Mrs Florence Ilesanmi, a resident of Gwari Village, Mpape also told NAN that she had been experiencing the same thing.

Madam Aisha Lawal, a resident of the Crushrock area of Mpape shared a similar experience with NAN, saying that the interval of the vibration was a source of worry.

An official of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency who spoke on the condition of anonymity urged the residents to consider temporary relocation if the tremor continues.

The official asked the residents to continue to record the frequency of the vibration.

“I `googled` the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA). They told me I should be recording anytime the vibration occurred again.

“I was able to speak with one of the officers of the agency, who confirmed that all their equipment is already on the ground to forestall any emergency.

“They said if the vibration is heavy we should try and evacuate from the premises for now.

The project, which involves the construction of a six-lane, spanning over 1,000 kilometres, aimed at boosting economic integration, will reduce transportation cost by 30 per cent

Dayo Ayeyemi, Nigerian Tribune

AS ECOWAS Commission is taking a significant step towards the realisation of the Abidjan-Lagos Highway project, it said the completion of the six-lane expressway will increase regional trade by 40 percent.

Besides, it said the project, which involves the construction of a six-lane, spanning over 1,000 kilometres, aimed at boosting economic integration, will reduce transportation cost by 30 per cent.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Monday, the Commission’s Acting. Director, Directorate of Transport Development, Mr. Chris Appiah, revealed that the project is now at the final stage of technical studies, with the draft designs set to be approved by the end of the year.

He explained that the project, which construction is expected to commence in 2025, will be financed through a combination of public and private sector funding.

He noted that the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCOMA) has been established to oversee the project’s implementation, with the inauguration of its board expected soon.

“The authority will be responsible for raising funds for the project, which will be recouped through tolls.

“The project’s benefits extend beyond economic gains, as it is expected to boost tourism, education, and healthcare in the region. The highway will also connect major ports, facilitating international trade.

“While challenges such as harmonizing design standards and addressing government changes have been encountered, the Commission remains committed to delivering the project, with strong political will from the highest level.

“The public has been urged to continue supporting the project as it moves into the executive phase, with construction expected to commence soon,” he appealed.

In her remarks, Director of Policy, Planning, and Budgeting at Ghana’s Ministry of Roads and Highways, and Project Director, Engr. Rita Ohene-Sarfoh, said that the inauguration of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCOMA) board is set to take place soon, paving the way for project implementation to begin within the next year.

She explained that,”The project’s funding will be a unique blend of public and private sector investments, with the management authority responsible for raising the necessary funds. Unlike traditional funding models, this approach will not be based on individual country needs or requirements. Instead, each country’s contribution will be treated as equity, with returns on investment expected.

“Ghana’s section of the corridor is the largest, covering over 50% of the entire corridor. The country is already exploring funding options with international donors and will work closely with other countries to secure the necessary funds.

“The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor project promises to revolutionize regional trade and economic integration. With a toll-based system in place, investments made in the corridor can be recouped, ensuring a sustainable future for the project”, she assured.

Engr. Ohene-Sarfoh noted, “If a country raises more funds, it goes in as equity, and they get returns.”

The coronavirus pandemic led to the suspension of U.S. visa services around the world. As restrictions have eased, most U.S. embassies and consulates have resumed certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. Learn the current status of visa services in your country:

By Ahmed Kingimi

• Over 30 killed, 1 million affected, mostly in camps without food and clean water
• Floods caused by dam burst following heavy rainfall in Sahel region
• Aid agencies warn of waterborne disease outbreak, overwhelmed by crisis

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Sept 16 (Reuters) - (This Sept. 16 story has been corrected to remove Goemaere as the source of the statement that the insurgency had driven people from their farms, in paragraph 12)
People in Nigeria's flood-hit northeastern Borno state are struggling to get medical care as overwhelmed aid agencies warn of an outbreak of waterborne disease following the worst floods to hit the region in three decades.
More than 30 people have been killed by the floods, which authorities say affected about one million people, most of whom are housed in camps without food and clean water.

The deluge threatens not only the health and safety of the displaced but puts a strain on aid agencies and government resources, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis.
The floods in Borno, the birthplace of Boko Haram militants in the Lake Chad basin, started when a dam burst its walls following heavy rainfall that has also caused floods in Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Niger, all part of Africa's Sahel region that usually receives little rain.

In the last two weeks of August, more than 1.5 million people were displaced across 12 countries in West and Central Africa due to floods, and about 465 have been killed, according to the United Nations humanitarian affairs office.
Over the weekend, an additional 50,000 people were displaced in northeastern Nigeria as the floods intensified, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said on Monday.
"The situation in the Sahel and Lake Chad region is increasingly dire, as the compounding effects of conflict, displacement and climate change take a severe toll on vulnerable populations," said Hassane Hamadou, NRC's Central and West Africa regional director.

(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is taking more steps to reduce immigration in a country that has buckled under the strain of explosive population growth.

Canada will bring in even fewer foreign students next year after already reducing 2024 visa issuance, and further cut back on the number of foreign workers and master’s degree students whose spouses are able to apply for a work permit, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Wednesday in Ottawa.

For 2025, the intake cap of international students will decrease by 10% from this year’s levels, and that limit will be maintained through 2026. That represents a 36% decline from the 2023 numbers. However, Universities Canada has warned the country is currently on track to undershoot this year’s target as fewer foreign students are applying.

The new measures, although incremental, fill in some of the gaps in the government’s plan to shrink its temporary resident population. That’s a group that includes foreign students, temporary workers and asylum seekers. It had grown rapidly after the pandemic and is a key source of criticisms against Trudeau’s mishandling of immigration policies.

Canada’s strong immigration had helped boost the country’s post-pandemic recovery and lessened the impact of elevated interest rates on growth. But population gains of about three million over the past three years — the equivalent of Qatar’s populace — exacerbated pressures on housing costs and public services and tanked Trudeau’s popularity.

In March, Miller said the government aimed to decrease the share of temporary residents in the country to 5% over the next three years. At the time of that announcement, the temporary resident population stood at 6.2% but has since grown to about 6.8%. That’s partly because the cap on foreign student visas is so far the only major policy to reduce immigration.

The restrictions announced Wednesday are expected to reduce the number of temporary immigrants by an additional 525,000 over three years, the immigration minister said, adding that the further decrease will help the government achieve its 5% goal.

The government will announce the first-ever temporary resident target for 2025 to 2027 by Nov. 1.

The Bank of Canada in July lifted its near-term population growth projections, anticipating the government’s plan to limit inflows of temporary residents would take longer time than previously expected to slow immigration. Still, economists expect the country’s long-run growth to be weaker in the coming years as population growth decelerates, raising prospects of a downturn.

Unlike the US, Canada’s current immigration pressures aren’t coming from undocumented migrants or irregular crossings. The northern nation is instead grappling with the explosive numbers of newcomers who come to study and work under temporary visas but with the goal of seeking permanent residency.

“The reality is that not everyone who wants to come to Canada will be able to — just like not everyone who wants to stay in Canada will be able to,” Miller said in a statement. “Our immigration system must preserve its integrity, and be well managed and sustainable.”

Temporary Workers

At a news conference alongside Miller, Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault also announced measures to limit the use of temporary foreign workers in Quebec, a French-speaking province that’s the biggest user of the program so far this year. The government is expanding restrictions announced in August for other provinces to cover Quebec, and the tighter policies include bans on using the program in regions where unemployment rate is 6% or higher.

Polling by Nanos Research Group for Bloomberg News released this month showed the majority of Canadians agreed the government should curb the number of temporary workers. That’s despite three in five respondents supporting the idea that businesses should be allowed to use the program when they claim they can’t find suitable candidates in Canada.

Over the past year, Canada’s immigration-led labor force growth has consistently outpaced the economy’s capacity to create jobs. That pushed up the overall unemployment rate by more than one percentage point since mid-2023, with youth and newcomers bearing the worst brunt. Abuses and fraud within the temporary worker program also grew as government agencies were overwhelmed with the rapid growth.

“Right now, we know that there are more Canadians qualified to fill open positions,” Boissonnault said. “The changes we are making today will prioritize Canadians workers and ensures Canadians can trust the program is meeting the needs of our economy.”

(Updates with more details on the measures in the seventh paragraph.)