Hundreds of Ontario skilled trades workers are protesting. They gathered outside Queen’s Park for a third day. Workers fight against the sudden dismissal of their immigration applications. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) applications were returned last week.

Workers Protest OINP Decisions

Over a hundred skilled workers protested on Wednesday. They gathered outside Queen’s Park. These protests are against the dismissal of OINP applications. The OINP is a provincial program. It nominates foreign workers and international students. These individuals have skills the Ontario economy needs. The program helps them gain permanent residence.

Allegations of Fraud in Ontario Skilled Trades Program

The OINP office released a statement on Friday. It identified “systemic misrepresentation and/or fraud.” This fraud related to eligibility requirements. It affected the skilled trades stream of the program. The OINP director suspended this stream. The office returned all outstanding applications. Protesters say this leaves hundreds of workers in limbo.

Workers Demand Proof and Reconsideration

Workers stood in the cold. They wore winter jackets and toques. They held signs demanding the province revisit applications. Workers also demand evidence of possible fraud. Protester Shafna Shamsudheen said, “They have painted all of us with the same brush.” She added, “They are telling all of us are fraud.” Shamsudheen came to Canada in 2021. She works as a welder in Waterloo, Ont. She applied to the OINP in April 2024. She received one request for documentation. She received no other information for over a year. Shamsudheen’s work visa ended in August. She stopped working. She is now in Canada on visitor status. She says her family must return home without the OINP.

Gurpreet Attal is a protester from Brantford, Ont. He waited over a year for his application status. His application was returned last week. Attal learned his OINP documents were accepted. He used a freedom of information request. He believed he was waiting for an official nomination. Attal said, “I was invited because Ontario said it needed skilled trade workers.” He added, “There have been many people who’ve misused the system.” Attal expects the OINP to do its due diligence.

Political Support for Protesters

NDP Leader Marit Stiles visited the protest. She rallied the workers. Stiles pointed to Premier Doug Ford’s office window. She said the protest was visible inside. She urged everyone to continue standing their ground. Stiles told them, “We see you, we hear you.” She added, “We’re going to keep fighting for you.”

Skilled trade workers continue to demand answers. They want the province to revisit their applications. They also seek evidence of any alleged fraud. Many workers face an uncertain future in Canada.