In recent months, Canada’s immigration policies have sparked controversy, highlighting a broader issue of systemic bias that affects many countries worldwide. While there have been numerous claims about Jewish Canadians feeling unwelcome or facing unequal treatment in this country. Yet, at the same time, Haaretz, an Israel-based news outlet, reports that thousands of Israelis are choosing Canada as their new home.
Internationally, countries grapple with similar dilemmas. For example, European nations have faced criticism for preferential treatments based on nationality during the refugee crisis, and the U.S. has its debates over policies that disproportionately affect migrants from Latin America and the Middle East.
While antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism have risen since October 7th, Canada’s policies and actions at the state and institutional levels have demonstrated a clear preference for Jewish Canadians while showing bias against Palestinian and Muslim Canadians. This has been evident in how the government handled evacuations of Canadians from Israel and Gaza, as well as in the stark contrast between its welcome for those leaving Israel and its barriers for Palestinians fleeing the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
In November, Canada’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Immigration and Citizenship rejected a motion to study the temporary public policy aimed at facilitating visas for Gazans with Canadian family ties. Both the Liberals and Conservatives voted against examining the challenges of enabling safe exits, Canada’s special immigration measures to reunite families, and the role of diplomatic efforts in supporting the movement of those authorized to travel to Canada.
Canada’s immigration policies have come under fire in recent months for their glaringly unequal treatment of Israelis and Palestinians fleeing war. In 2024, over 10,000 Israelis relocated to Canada through fast-tracked visas and streamlined pathways. By contrast, fewer than 350 Palestinians from Gaza—escaping war and devastation—have managed to do the same.
This disparity raises critical questions about Canada’s commitment to humanitarian principles as well as its legally binding international and domestic law commitments to welcoming those seeking protection and refuge.
For Israelis, the 2024 migration numbers are unprecedented. 7,850 applied for and received work visas, a fivefold increase from the previous year. This includes 3,425 temporary work visas and 4,424 regular work permits, showcasing how accessible Canada’s immigration system has been for Israelis.
The ease with which they have been able to relocate contrasts sharply with the experience of Palestinians trying to escape a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In December 2023, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced the Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) Program for Gazans with Canadian Family Ties. Despite receiving nearly 9,000 applications, the program has facilitated the arrival of fewer than 450 individuals—a mere 2.4% of applicants. Those who managed to exit Gaza did so independently and at great personal expense, as the government did not facilitate any direct evacuations from Gaza. Even within Canada’s control, the visa processing in Cairo has proven to be a difficult and arduous experience for many applicants.
According to Reuters, Reem Alyazouri, a Palestinian who fled intense conflict in Gaza, escaped the bombardment in Gaza City with her family and arrived in Toronto on September 4, 2024. However, she was forced to leave her parents behind in Cairo due to delays in their Canadian visa applications, despite having completed the process six months earlier. “My mind is busy with my parents. I feel guilty, believe me. When I came here and I left them behind, they told us, ‘Go and start your life… Don’t worry about us,’” Alyazouri shared.
The TRV program presents nearly insurmountable hurdles for Palestinians. In Gaza, relentless bombings have destroyed homes, infrastructure, and personal documents, leaving most people displaced with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Despite these dire conditions, the program demands passports, biometrics, detailed employment histories, and invasive personal questions. Some of this information is shared with Israeli and Egyptian authorities, exposing applicants to significant safety risks. Even for those who make it to Canada, the challenges continue: it can take up to six months to obtain a work permit, there is no settlement funding support, and health coverage is limited to just three months.
The disparity becomes even clearer when compared to Canada’s response to other conflicts. The Canadian-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program, launched in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, facilitated the arrival of nearly 300,000 Ukrainians within two years. These arrivals were granted immediate work permits, financial assistance of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child, and three years of health coverage.
Canada’s contrasting treatment of Israelis, Ukrainians and Palestinians fleeing conflict reveals systemic inequities, and specifically anti-Palestinian racism, embedded in the Ministry of Immigration and its policies. The challenges faced by Palestinians reflect more than just logistical or bureaucratic inefficiencies—they expose a deliberate imbalance in priorities. By facilitating streamlined pathways for one group while imposing hurdles on another, Canada risks eroding its reputation as a global leader in humanitarian efforts. These policies perpetuate broader patterns of discrimination and exclusion in Canada’s immigration system.
If Canada—and indeed any nation—claims to stand for fairness and human rights, these values must be reflected unequivocally in their actions and policies. This means creating accessible pathways for all refugees, irrespective of their nationality, and ensuring that humanitarian principles are applied consistently.