Approximately 1,000 Algoma Steel employees in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., are facing layoffs in March, prompting concerns about their future job prospects in the region. Among them is Mayurkumar Lad, a 38-year-old immigrant worker from India who moved to Canada with his family in 2022. Lad, employed as a stationary engineer at Algoma Steel since 2024, applied for permanent residency under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) about 18 months ago.
Due to significant delays and policy changes within the program, Lad anticipates not receiving a decision on his permanent residency status until early 2027, well after his impending job loss. Maintaining employment at Algoma Steel is crucial for his application, raising fears that he may face further delays or potential disqualification for permanent residency.
In response to the challenges faced by immigrant workers like Lad, calls are being made to provincial and federal authorities for a special exemption to safeguard their applications. Lad highlighted the impact of external factors, such as tariffs, on the company’s operations, emphasizing the unfair consequences faced by workers who diligently followed immigration rules.
While an OINP spokesperson acknowledged that changes in employment status could affect applications, they suggested alternative immigration streams that do not rely on a job offer. However, Lad expressed uncertainty about his eligibility under these options and urged the government to address his situation as a unique case requiring exemptions.
With the Ontario government considering significant changes to the OINP, including stream cancellations and reduced entry categories, Lad is hopeful for a resolution that would allow him to continue his permanent residency journey without starting anew. He emphasized his family’s integration into Canadian life and the disruption that leaving the country would cause.
Efforts are ongoing to address vulnerabilities in immigration streams, with collaboration between the IRCC and Ontario to ensure program integrity. Algoma Steel did not provide a comment on the matter when contacted.
