Premier Ford Says Ontario Will Issue Work Permits to Asylum Seekers Due to Feds’ Delays

Ontario Premier Doug Ford (L) and Quebec Premier François Legault speak at a press conference during the 2025 summer meetings of Canada’s premiers at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont., on July 23, 2025. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

Ontario is tired of waiting for Ottawa to fix its back-logged immigration system and will begin issuing its own work permits to help asylum seekers enter the job market, Premier Doug Ford said.

Ford criticized the federal government during a July 23 press conference for prolonged delays in its immigration processes, saying that supporting asylum seekers while waiting for the federal agency to issue work permits is costing the province “an absolute fortune.”