Illegal workers in Toronto's underground economy are being deported as the new Conservative government abandons a Liberal amnesty plan, immigration lawyers and consultants say.
Some families who have been in Canada five years or more are being given less than two weeks to pack up and leave.
Toronto's Portuguese community-- with up to 15,000 undocumented members, working mainly in the booming construction industry --is especially concerned.
Early last year, then-Immigration Minister Joe Volpe said he would try to find a way to get legal status for undocumented workers.
"They are here already and have proven themselves to be integrated," Volpe said at the time.
Last May, he said he had signed off on a final draft and the plan was set to go to cabinet. But nothing was done during the following six months before the Liberals were defeated.
Immigration officials now say they will continue to enforce the existing policy, with increased resources.
TheStar.com - Tories begin deporting illegal workers
This has potential to do real damage to the Toronto New Housing Market and broader economy. The past ten years of so have been boom years for the TO New Home Market, but nevertheless prices have remained pretty reasonable, going up about five to ten per cent every year, which is beyond inflation but still within range of people trying to get into the market.
Remove 10,000 to 15,000 construction workers from the picture, and this situation changes pretty fast.
Again, this is probably a Liberal sin that the Tories are paying the price for, but now its their problem and they have to fix it. Some kind of amnesty program should restored here real quick.
PS. I'm not really up to this tonight. Will attempt to post something more reasoned within the next 24 hours or so.
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