An Indian engineer who moved to Canada with his family just two years ago now faces a dual crisis: the impending loss of his job and the potential collapse of his family's dream of permanent residency. Mayurkumar Lad, 38, is among roughly 1,000 workers at Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, who are set to be laid off this March, a move that could derail his immigration process entirely.
The Precarious Link Between Job and Residency
Lad, who relocated from India in 2022 with his wife and daughter, has worked as an engineer at Algoma Steel since 2024. Nearly 18 months ago, he applied for permanent residency through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), a provincial pathway that allows skilled workers to fast-track their status. However, a critical condition of the OINP is that applicants must remain employed with their sponsoring company throughout the process.
Lad does not expect a decision on his application until early 2027, which is months after the planned layoffs. "The consequences fall entirely on workers like me who followed every rule," Lad stated. He emphasized that his job is the sole anchor for his family's life in Canada. "I'm at risk of losing not just my job, but my entire permanent residency application. If I'm laid off, I may become ineligible, despite doing everything correctly."
A Plea for Special Consideration
Lad and other immigrant workers in similar situations are urgently calling on the Canadian government to provide a special exemption to keep their applications active despite the layoffs. He clarified that the job cuts are due to operational issues linked to tariffs, not employee performance or a company shutdown.
"I want the government to look at this situation as a special case and make some exemptions," Lad appealed. "We need answers, especially from the provincial government." His hope is that if Algoma Steel and the OINP can reach an agreement allowing him to find a new employer, his residency journey might continue. "Otherwise, I am starting from scratch," he lamented.
Shifting Immigration Landscape Adds to Uncertainty
The appeal comes at a time of significant change in Ontario's immigration programs. Ontario recently cancelled the skilled trades stream of the OINP and is considering reducing its nine entry categories to just four. Furthermore, the federal government in Ottawa has halved the number of provincial nominee applications it will accept this year, tightening the overall pipeline.
An OINP spokesperson confirmed that changes in employment, including layoffs, can affect an application's status, though workers might explore other provincial or federal immigration programs. Lad has received no guarantees.
Beyond the paperwork, the potential upheaval carries a deep personal cost. Lad's family has built a life in Sault Ste. Marie. "My daughter's in Grade 4, and she's already adapted to the culture. I love the people here," he shared. "This is a big disruption." His story highlights the fragile position of immigrant workers whose legal status and future are inextricably tied to a single employer in a fluctuating economic climate.
