Poilievre calls for immigration minister’s removal over expiring visa concerns

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for Immigration Minister Lena Diab to be removed from cabinet, accusing the Liberal government of failing to manage Canada’s immigration system as millions of temporary visas approach expiry.

Speaking about immigration and labour pressures, Poilievre alleged the federal government does not have a clear plan to track or manage people whose visas are expiring. He claimed there is no effective system in place to determine who has left Canada after their visa expired and who may still be in the country.

Poilievre also accused Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government of allowing what he described as “uncontrolled immigration,” arguing the situation is contributing to higher unemployment among young Canadians and increasing competition for entry-level jobs.

According to Poilievre, the number of non-permanent residents in Canada has grown significantly while unemployed Canadians continue to face difficulty finding work. He said the federal immigration department is continuing to expand immigration pathways instead of prioritizing jobs for skilled workers already living in Canada.

The comments are part of an ongoing political debate over immigration levels, temporary foreign worker programs and housing and labour market pressures across the country.