Opinion | To immigrants, Canada is acting like a narcissistic partner: All promises and no commitment (Toronto Star)

Imagine entering a relationship brimming with promise and the allure of a stable, prosperous future — only to find the rules keep changing. But you only discover the truth of your “situationship” after you’ve already flown across the world, moved in and unpacked.

This is what many migrant workers and international students face in Canada — an immigration system that mimics the unpredictable and toxic whims of a narcissist.

These individuals arrive to Canada, lured by promises of opportunities and the potential for permanent residency sold to them by immigration consultants, policymakers and relatives. Initially, Canada seems welcoming with our talk of diversity and inclusion. However, the reality soon hits. Requirements shift and goalposts move unpredictably — classic manoeuvres of control and manipulation.

Migrant workers and international students learn quickly that their welcome is conditional and precarious. In 2022, international students contributed a massive $37.3 billion to Canada’s economy, or 1.2 per cent of the GDP, through tuition and other expenses. They, along with temporary foreign workers, fill essential jobs in agriculture, construction and care work — sectors Canadians often avoid. Yet, we barely acknowledge their contributions.

In return for their substantial financial and labour investments, we offer them limited rights and unstable pathways to permanence, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.