Amid growing concerns over rising housing costs and public service strains, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is poised to shift a long-held policy of welcoming immigration. This announcement marks the first reduction in immigration targets in over a decade. On November 4th, the government revealed plans to significantly lower the number of new immigrants accepted next year, aiming for approximately 395,000 permanent residents—a 21% decrease from last year’s goal of 500,000. Furthermore, the targets for 2025 and 2027 will be reduced even further to 380,000 and 365,000, respectively.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller is expected to present these finalized figures to Parliament on Thursday morning. Reports highlight that the Trudeau administration’s decision to cut immigration numbers aims to address issues stemming from a substantial influx of newcomers over the past decade, which has contributed to skyrocketing housing prices. This topic is anticipated to become one of the most significant points of contention in the upcoming election, scheduled for October 2024, as the Liberal government faces criticism for altering major policies to maintain its grip on power.
At the core of Canada’s immigration framework is the acceptance of permanent residents, focusing on attracting younger, highly educated workers to alleviate the aging labor market. The drastic reduction in new permanent resident admissions aligns with a shift in policy that reflects changing attitudes towards immigration.
Since the easing of travel restrictions in 2022, Canada has experienced its highest population growth in history due to a surge in immigration, which has exacerbated housing shortages, increased rental prices, and strained public services, even contributing to rising unemployment rates.
However, it’s essential to note that permanent residents are not the majority of recent immigrants; the so-called temporary residents—those holding temporary visas for education or work purposes—have dominated the immigration landscape. In response, Trudeau and Miller have announced plans to impose limits on temporary immigration for the first time, aiming to cut the number of temporary residents significantly over the next three years. This includes restrictions on the admission of international students and foreign workers.
In a statement on X, Trudeau emphasized, “We will implement stricter regulations requiring businesses to prove why they cannot prioritize hiring Canadian workers.”
