Canada’s Immigration Minister, Lena Diab, says the federal government is looking to introduce digital tools to better track how many people on temporary visas leave the country—a move that could have wide implications for immigrant and diaspora communities.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reports that nearly 1.9 million temporary visas, including work permits and study permits, are set to expire this year. Last year, more than 2.1 million temporary visas expired, underscoring the growing number of temporary residents who live, work, and study in Canada.
Minister Diab explained that while the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and IRCC can track some individuals and groups, there is currently no simple or reliable way to know how many temporary visa holders actually leave Canada once their permits expire.
“We know other countries track this information, and I believe Canada should be doing the same,” Diab said in a phone interview with The Canadian Press.
For many diaspora communities, temporary residents are family members, international students, caregivers, and workers who support both the Canadian economy and families back home.
Community leaders say better data could help correct public misconceptions about overstays and ensure immigration decisions are based on facts, not fear.
At the same time, ethnic-media voices stress that any new tracking system must protect privacy and be communicated clearly, so migrants are not made to feel targeted or criminalized.
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