Who Gets to Work? Immigration and Labour Policy in Canada  

Canada’s immigration system isn’t one program; it’s an entire architecture. A maze of pathways, permits, and policies that shape who gets in, who gets to work, and who gets to stay. 

In this episode, host Marwa Abdou sits down with Dr. Mikal Skuterud, Professor of Economics at the University of Waterloo, and one of Canada’s leading labour economists, to unpack what he calls the country’s two-step system, where people arrive on temporary status before transitioning, often uncertainly, to permanent residency. 

Together, they explore the unintended consequences of a capless temporary system that neither fulfills the promise of permanence made to immigrants nor strategically addresses Canada’s deeper economic gaps. 

Their conversation challenges a familiar narrative: That immigration success can be measured by sheer numbers or GDP growth alone. Instead, they argue that immigration policy should be guided by a different goal — higher living standards for everyone. That means aligning inflows with investment in housing, healthcare and productivity, and ensuring immigration fuels tomorrow’s innovation rather than simply today’s labour shortages. 

This is an episode about recalibrating ambition and rethinking how Canada’s immigration system can match the scale of its promise.