Approximately 1,000 Algoma Steel employees are facing layoffs in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, this March, prompting concerns about their future job prospects in the area. Among them is Mayurkumar Lad, an immigrant worker from India who moved to Canada with his family in 2022. Lad, who has been 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 backlogs, delays, and recent policy adjustments within the program, Lad anticipates a decision on his permanent residency application by early 2027, which is after his expected job loss. Maintaining employment at Algoma Steel is crucial for his application’s validity, leading to concerns that a layoff could jeopardize his pathway to permanent residency.
Mike Da Prat, the union president representing many Algoma Steel workers, highlighted similar worries expressed by other employees facing layoffs. Lad and fellow immigrant workers are urging government authorities at provincial and federal levels to grant them a special exemption to keep their applications active.
Lad emphasized the impact of the layoffs on his family’s stability, emphasizing that the potential loss of his job and residency application could have lasting consequences. While Lad is hopeful for government intervention, uncertainties remain regarding the future of his employment status and residency prospects.
In response to the situation, Lad emphasized the need for government support and a closer examination of his case to prevent restarting the immigration process from scratch. The IRCC is collaborating with Ontario to address immigration program integrity, aiming to enhance immigration streams’ effectiveness across all regions.
Algoma Steel did not provide a comment in time for publication regarding the ongoing situation.