Canada Shifts Tone on Immigration, Launches Global Ad Campaign to Deter Asylum Seekers
Once presenting itself as one of the world’s most welcoming countries to refugees and immigrants, Canada is launching a global online ad campaign cautioning asylum-seekers that making a claim is hard.
The C$250,000 ($178,662) in advertisements will run through March in 11 languages, including Spanish, Urdu, Ukrainian, Hindi, and Tamil, the immigration department told Reuters. They are part of a broader shift in tone by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s unpopular government on immigration and an effort to clamp down on refugee claims.
Migrants have been blamed for high housing prices, although some experts argue this is a simplistic explanation, and polls show a growing number of Canadians think the country admits too many newcomers.
The four-month campaign is budgeted to cost a third of the total spend on similar advertisements over the previous seven years.
Search queries such as "how to claim asylum in Canada" and "refugee Canada" will prompt sponsored content titled "Canada’s asylum system – Asylum Facts," the ministry said.
"Claiming asylum in Canada is not easy. There are strict guidelines to qualify. Find out what you need to know before you make a life-changing decision," one ad reads.
Canada has long been seen as a welcoming place for newcomers. Now its leaders are slashing immigration and trying to get temporary residents to leave and to prevent people fleeing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump from claiming asylum.
Immigration Minister’s New Stance
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is working to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation about Canada’s immigration system, and to highlight the risks of working with unauthorized representatives, a department spokesperson wrote in an email.
It may be an uphill battle. Canada’s refugee system faces a 260,000-case backlog amid growing global displacement. The government has little control over who claims asylum.
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Conclusion
Canada’s shift in tone on immigration has raised concerns about the country’s commitment to welcoming refugees and immigrants. The new ad campaign may be a step in the right direction to combat misinformation, but it also risks being seen as a deterrent to those who need protection.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the new ad campaign?
A: The campaign aims to caution asylum-seekers that making a claim is hard and to combat misinformation about Canada’s immigration system.
Q: How much is the campaign budgeted to cost?
A: The campaign is budgeted to cost a third of the total spend on similar advertisements over the previous seven years, which is C$250,000 (178,662).
Q: What are the languages in which the ads will be available?
A: The ads will be available in 11 languages, including Spanish, Urdu, Ukrainian, Hindi, and Tamil.
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