🇨🇦 The history of backlog or underperforming programs, and the advent of the criteria upgrading system - The pioneering role of the Ontario Startup Studio (OSS)
🕰️ 1️⃣ As Canada faces backlog and "saturation" in immigration
Over the past two decades, the Canadian immigration system has repeatedly had to "reinvent" itself.
When the volume of applications exceeds the processing capacity, or the program is no longer suitable for the economic reality, IRCC always chooses to upgrade or restructure, rather than abandon it entirely.
The three major phases of these “reconstructions” formed the foundation for the entire immigration system we see today.
📜 2️⃣ Phase 1: Federal Skilled Worker - from backlog to Express Entry
Prior to 2012, the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program was the primary pathway for highly skilled workers. However, due to its lack of industry restrictions and the "first in, first out" system for applications, the backlog exceeded 280,000 applications, and many would face processing times exceeding eight years.
In 2012, the Canadian government issued Bill C-38, which stipulated:
"Applications under the Federal Skilled Worker Program submitted before February 27, 2008, that have not received a decision by March 29, 2012, will be terminated."
Source: Government of Canada - Questions and Answers: Changes to Federal Skilled Worker applications
This means that old applications are removed from the backlog and candidates are allowed to reapply under new, stricter criteria:
- IELTS requirement
- Limitations on priority industries
- Prioritize valid job offers.
Three years later, in 2015, the Express Entry system was launched, revolutionizing the speed and transparency of the skilled worker selection process. According to official data, the average processing time was reduced to just 6-12 months .
💡 Therefore, when the backlog becomes overloaded, IRCC does not close the program, but “resets” the criteria to select more suitable candidates.
💼 3️⃣ Stage 2: Federal Investor & Entrepreneur - From Low Economic Performance to Start-Up Visa
In the early 2000s, the Federal Immigrant Investor Program (FIIP) and the Federal Entrepreneur Program (FEP) attracted tens of thousands of people, but were criticized for their low economic efficiency. Many investors did not live in Canada, and the businesses existed only on paper.
According to the official announcement from IRCC:
"The Federal Immigrant Investor Program and the Federal Entrepreneur Program were terminated on June 19, 2014."
That same year, IRCC introduced the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program, shifting from "financial investment" to "innovative investment." Applicants no longer needed to demonstrate assets, but rather had to prove their innovative idea, execution capabilities, and sponsorship from a Designated Organization (DO).
Therefore, when a program fails to create real value, Canada will undergo a radical restructuring, prioritizing quality over quantity.
🌱 4️⃣ Phase 3: Self-Employed and the "Quality over Quantity" Trend
The Self-Employed stream (Artists, Athletes) used to have an average processing time of 5-6 years, with a backlog of over 12,000 applications. IRCC did not cancel the stream, but significantly reduced its intake, even stopping applications altogether, retaining only those with truly outstanding achievements. This is an example of a "selective, not inclusive" policy.
⚙️ 5️⃣ Current trend: “criteria upgrade” systems
Looking back at history, it can be seen that IRCC's development model has always followed this pattern:
| Stage | Old program | Status | IRCC's solution | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before 2012 | FSW | Backlog of 280,000 records | Remove backlog, tighten criteria. | The introduction of Express Entry |
| Before 2014 | FIIP & FEP | Large backlog, low efficiency | Close down, restructure | The Start-Up Visa (SUV) is introduced. |
| 2018–2024 | Self-Employed | Poor efficiency, increased backlog. | Reduce intake, choose carefully. | Retain a high-quality team. |
💡 The rule is clear: Canada doesn't abandon valuable programs, but reinvents them with higher standards.
🇨🇦 6️⃣ Immigration is a strategic pillar of the Canadian economy.
Canada's "open doors to immigration" isn't just about humanitarian or multicultural reasons; it's a vital economic necessity. According to data from IRCC:
"Immigration accounts for nearly 100% of Canada's workforce growth and approximately 75% of its population growth." - Government of Canada, Immigration Levels Plan 2024–2026
This means that if Canada stopped immigration, the working population would decline rapidly, leaving insufficient workers to support the tax, healthcare, and pension systems. Therefore, maintaining a stable annual immigration flow (450,000+ people) is merely adjusting the "channel," not completely "closing the door."
IRCC operates over 100 different immigration programs (federal and provincial). Each program is merely a temporary tool to achieve a goal: attracting talent, investment, or addressing labor shortages.
When a program becomes outdated (backlog, exploited, inefficient), they switch tools, not abandon the goal.
Legally and politically, shutdowns are costly and risky. When a program is shut down, the government must:
- Full refund of application fees;
- Resolving a series of class action lawsuits;
- This has damaged the company's international image, as investors and businesspeople have lost confidence.
For example, when Canada closed the Federal Skilled Worker pre-2008 and Investor Program (FIIP), thousands of applicants sued the government.
The government ultimately won the case, but the damage to trust and reputation was significant. Therefore, IRCC today avoids completely shutting down the program; instead, they reform it, filter weak cases, and maintain continuity to prevent media crises.
💰 Immigration is a crucial source of revenue. Each immigration application generates processing fees, tuition fees, living expenses, taxes, and consumer spending. According to the Canadian Ministry of Finance, new immigrants contribute more than 1.3% of GDP per year within the first five years of settlement. Completely shutting down an immigration stream would not only result in lost revenue but also the loss of skilled labor, students, and investors—factors Canada is severely lacking.
🌱 Therefore, Canada chooses “evolution” over “erasure.” IRCC’s strategy has always been:
- Don't delete the actual program, just raise the standards;
- Instead of closing down, they will merge or be rebuilt;
- Instead of reducing immigration, the focus is on categorizing it according to needs.
A prime example is the Start-Up Visa: despite the current high backlog, it remains a key program in Canada's "Innovation-based Immigration" strategy.
“Canada's Start-Up Visa Program helps attract global entrepreneurs who will build innovative businesses that create jobs for Canadians.” - Government of Canada, About the Start-Up Visa Program
Therefore, IRCC plans to raise the standards for Designated Organizations (DOs), categorize applications, and prioritize projects that are actually in operation – as they did with Skilled Workers or Express Entry.
🚀 The role of OSS in the “policy evolution” model
Currently, the Start-Up Visa program is entering the same cycle that previous programs have gone through: increasing backlogs, stricter standards, and IRCC prioritizing real businesses that are already operating in Canada.
This is where OSS demonstrates its pioneering role. Ontario Startup Studio (OSS) not only helps customers submit SUV applications, but also:
- We have the necessary facilities and a strong team ready in Canada to establish and operate a real business in Canada;
- We offer co-working spaces, mentoring, and coaching with experts in law, finance, and technology.
- Standardize progress reports according to IRCC standards;
- Maintaining business operations and continuous growth in Canada is a key factor in securing priority treatment.
🌟 OSS was prepared for any changes, because when IRCC raised its standards, only truly active teams were selected to stay and process cases more quickly.
Conclusion
Immigration is the lifeblood of Canada's economy and population. When faced with overcrowding, they restructure, upgrade criteria, and improve models to ensure immigration serves the nation's development goals.
And in each of those "re-emergences," organizations like the OSS, which understand the law, do things properly, and operate effectively, are the ones that move faster, more safely, and are prioritized for earlier processing when Canada enters a new policy cycle.
