Doug Ford Reverses Plan to Issue Provincial Work Permits for Asylum Seekers

Doug Ford Reverses Plan to Issue Provincial Work Permits for Asylum Seekers

Summary: Ontario Premier Doug Ford has reversed his pledge to issue provincial work permits to asylum seekers, reaffirming federal primacy over work authorization while pressing Ottawa to clear backlogs and accelerate processing. Date of Update: 2025-07-29 Source: The Canadian Press (News Article) Programs Affected: Work Permits; Refugees TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford has walked back last week’s plan to have the province issue work permits to asylum seekers, a move that would have challenged Ottawa’s lead role in immigration administration. He did not explain the reversal, saying, “I don’t want to take the responsibility off the federal government, but in saying that, if you have a pulse and you’re healthy, you need to be working.” Key points:
- REVERSAL: Ford retreats from issuing provincial work permits announced at the premiers’ meeting in Huntsville, Ontario.
- FEDERAL TIMELINES: IRCC says work permits for asylum claimants are usually processed in about 45 days after a complete application, countering claims of two-year waits.
- BACKLOG PRESSURE: Ford cites 70,000 permits issued last year versus 90,000 claimants in Ontario; urges Ottawa to clear the gap.
- JURISDICTION: Immigration is shared; federal-provincial agreements structure program delivery under Section 95 of the Constitution.
- POLITICAL RESPONSE: Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles urges the Premier to focus on provincial responsibilities such as health care and infrastructure. At last week’s premiers’ gathering, Ford and others pressed for greater provincial control over immigration. He referenced Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Section 95 of the Constitution as a basis for provincial action, declaring at the time, “We will be issuing our own work permits.” On Monday, he reversed course without providing reasons. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada responded that asylum-seeker work permits are typically issued within approximately 45 days once applicants submit a complete file, including a medical exam and updated address. IRCC spokesperson Jeffrey MacDonald emphasized ongoing collaboration with provinces, the shared nature of immigration jurisdiction, and legally binding federal-provincial agreements. He added that Ottawa is planning immigration levels for 2026–2028 with input from all provinces and territories. Despite changing tack, Ford maintained that federal processing remains too slow and called for clearing Ontario’s backlog. New Democrat Leader Marit Stiles criticized the Premier’s focus, urging attention to provincial priorities like health care, infrastructure, and post-secondary institutions. Independent analysis:
- Potential positives: The reversal avoids immediate legal uncertainty and potential intergovernmental conflict over who can lawfully issue work permits, preserving national consistency in asylum-related employment authorization. It may streamline coordination as Ottawa finalizes 2026–2028 immigration levels.
- Potential negatives: Asylum seekers remain dependent on federal processing capacity, which could prolong time to labour market entry if bottlenecks persist. Employers facing labour shortages may see continued delays in accessing authorized workers. The episode underscores ongoing tensions over provincial roles in immigration, potentially complicating policy coherence if similar proposals re-emerge.

Closing: Ford’s retreat restores the status quo on work authorization for asylum seekers, keeping Ottawa firmly in charge while pressure mounts to reduce processing times and clear backlogs. All eyes now turn to federal-provincial coordination and the upcoming multi-year immigration levels plan.

Tags: Ontario immigration, Doug Ford, asylum seekers, work permits, IRCC, Section 95, immigration backlog, federal-provincial relations, Canadian immigration policy, refugees, Ontario politics