Canadian plan to clear Hongkonger migration backlog welcomed but questions remain
Advocates question whether the 30,000-application backlog can be resolved by 2027 despite new quota measures.
Quick Look
- Canada has introduced a time-limited measure to clear a 30,000-application backlog for Hong Kong permanent residency.
- While advocates welcome the additional 100,000 quota spaces, experts remain skeptical about the feasibility of meeting the 2027 target.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Canada has a backlog of over 30,000 permanent residency applications from Hong Kong residents. The government recently announced a 2027-29 immigration plan including 100,000 new spaces for humanitarian groups.
A Canadian goal of clearing a backlog of more than 30,000 applications from Hongkongers awaiting permanent residency is “encouraging” but questions remain about whether it can be achieved by 2027, advocates and immigration experts have said.
Experts and Canadian parliamentarians said on Saturday that Ottawa’s new one-off measure to add more quota spaces to clear the Hong Kong immigration pathways backlog would help address the uncertainty facing tens of thousands from the city still waiting for permanent residency.
Canada’s 2027-29 immigration levels plan, announced on Thursday alongside the budget, introduced a “time-limited measure” to allocate up to 100,000 additional spaces for permanent residency for specific humanitarian groups, including those under the Hong Kong pathways.
Open Questions
- Will the 2027 deadline for clearing the backlog be met?
- How will the 100,000 spaces be distributed among different groups?
