Canada has announced a significant reduction in immigration levels for the first time in years, with the government planning to bring in 1.1 million new permanent residents from 2025 to 2027, representing a 21 percent decrease from previous years. Additionally, the number of temporary residents will also decrease by about 30,000 to 300,000 in 2025. This shift in policy aims to pause population growth in the short term to achieve sustainable growth in the long term.
The new plan represents a departure from the COVID-19 pandemic era, where the government had eased restrictions on temporary residents to address labour shortages. The decision to reduce immigration levels comes as the government recognizes the need to evolve its immigration policies to address the pressures facing the country, including impacts on housing, infrastructure, and social services.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged that the balance in immigration policy had not been quite right and emphasized the importance of adapting policies to meet the evolving needs of the country. The changes have sparked backlash from immigrant advocates, who see the reduction in permanent resident numbers as an assault on migrants, potentially forcing them to remain temporary or become undocumented.
The reduction in immigration levels is expected to have a marginal impact on Canada’s population growth, with projections showing a slight decline in 2025 and 2026 followed by a rebound in 2027. The government believes that these changes will allow provinces, territories, and stakeholders to better align their capacities to welcome newcomers and support sustainable population growth.
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