Niraula: Canada’s immigration process is increasingly digitized, but that can make if difficult to navigate

While all of these ideas may help, the author ignores the need for program simplification as a necessary condition for digital transformation. And like so many, the call is for more resources rather than recognizing trade-offs and financial and other limits:

…There is a need for more inclusive and user-friendly digital infrastructures. Since migrants’ information needs evolve pre- and post-arrival, targeted strategies to disseminate authorized information are also necessary.

Many young people, including migrants, regularly use social media. To ensure digital tools support rather than mislead migrants, the Canadian government must use online platforms to share migration information in a way that is clear and accessible.

In addition, IRCC and provincial governments should enhance online resources by offering multilingual, user-friendly portals. AI-powered chatbots, simplified immigration guides in video or storytelling formats, and blockchain-verified advisory services could improve accessibility while preventing misinformation.

Greater transparency is required in how social media platforms promote migration-related information. Stronger regulations should define these platforms’ responsibilities for removing inaccurate immigration content, similar to fact-checking initiatives for COVID-19 misinformation. 

Organizations that help newcomers get settled need increased funding for pre-and-post arrival workshops on navigating official resources and understanding legal rights. Public education campaigns can help to empower migrants to verify information and detect fraud.

By strengthening both digital governance and education, Canada can ensure that a more transparent digital tools are a pathway to informed migration decision-making rather than a source of confusion and vulnerability.

Source: Canada’s immigration process is increasingly digitized, but that can make if difficult to navigate