Immigration Minister Marc Miller says the government is considering major changes to how many permanent residents can come to Canada. He promised these changes will be important, not just for show.
In an interview on Monday, Miller explained that the government is seriously reviewing immigration levels and will present real options for improvement, rather than making minor adjustments to please the public. He spoke while attending a Liberal cabinet meeting in Halifax, where discussions are also focused on housing and affordability issues.
The federal government also announced new rules to limit the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers due to recent high levels driven by the labor shortage after COVID.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that more changes to immigration policies are expected this fall, which could include reducing the number of new permanent residents. This would be a significant shift in policy for his government.
Trudeau mentioned that the government wants to support immigration while also ensuring new arrivals have successful integration. Last November, the government froze permanent resident targets for three years, aiming to admit 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026. This is a big increase from the 296,000 admitted in 2016.
Miller said that everything is being considered, including possibly reducing the number of immigrants, since 60 percent of current immigration is for economic reasons, which is high compared to other countries.
He also took responsibility for the immigration system and said the government will act aggressively where needed. Earlier this year, Miller capped the number of international student permits, reducing approvals by 35 percent compared to last year.
A recent report noted that while high immigration has boosted Canada’s workforce, it has also worsened the housing shortage. Statistics Canada revealed that Canada’s population grew rapidly in 2023, reaching over 41 million by early 2024, largely due to increased temporary residents.