Read on Twitter
To those studying (im)migration and citizenship, the move by Canadian immigration (IRCC) to drop its Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cutoff for PR invitation to 75 (from its usual 450+) will be most interesting. It effectively invites all minimally qualified candidates. https://twitter.com/Andrew_Griffith/status/1361285515224494088
It's both an encouraging move and a puzzling one. You cannot possibly square a skills/merit-based approach to managing immigration with this move. On economic grounds, it simply doesn't make sense. The response can only really be: that isn't the point. https://twitter.com/graemedmoffat/status/1360641198499762179
In addition to @Andrew_Griffith , I read @mikalskuterud for his takes, which are based on comparative research of immigrant resettlement and economic performance in Canada and beyond. He'd be the first to say there isn't an economic case to be made here. https://twitter.com/mikalskuterud/status/1360635159234678784
But at a time of rising authoritarian populism, marked by sharp rises in xenophobic and anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies, Canada stands apart. Research suggests nothing exceptional about CND preferences ( https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/canadians-not-so-exceptional-when-it-comes-to-immigration-and-refugee-views-new-study-finds), but there's yet to be a populist backlash.
As an American in Canada, and as someone who has lived abroad for basically my entire adult life, I must say that there is a very distinctive 'welcoming' vibe to the whole immigration process and among my (mainly but not totally) Toronto-based community of friends and colleagues.
Great thread with a link to a longer piece wherein the relevant literature is cited. TL;DR - there is no economic rationale for this policy move and constant emphasis on economic contribution crowds out other (potentially better) rationales and discourse. https://twitter.com/mikalskuterud/status/1362034921087397896
