The latest immigration strategy by the federal government, as highlighted by Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Thursday, aims to stabilize population growth and alleviate housing market pressures. The plan involves reducing the anticipated number of new permanent residents from 485,000 in the current year to 395,000 in 2025, with further decreases to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027. This adjustment contrasts with the prior plan, which projected admitting around 500,000 individuals in both 2025 and 2026.
Miller emphasized the significance of this plan during a press briefing, noting the challenges faced in the immigration sector. He stated that the proposed managed migration would foster a positive future for all Canadians by enhancing services for both citizens and immigrants. Recent data from Statistics Canada revealed a notable population surge in 2023, primarily driven by immigration, with approximately 1.3 million new residents in Canada during that period.
The new immigration approach anticipates a slight population decline over the coming two years and aims to bridge the housing supply gap by around 670,000 units by 2027. By drawing over 40% of new permanent residents from existing temporary residents in Canada, the plan seeks to capitalize on a skilled and integrated labor force without adding strain on essential services like healthcare and housing.
Furthermore, the strategy prioritizes attracting skilled workers, with over 62% of new permanent residents to be sourced from the economic stream, especially in sectors like healthcare and trades. Despite recent polls indicating a souring public sentiment towards immigration, Miller and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau underscored the importance of upholding trust in the immigration system among Canadians.
Notably, opposition voices like Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh criticized the new plan, attributing it to failures in addressing housing and healthcare challenges rather than immigration itself. Immigration advocates raised concerns that the cuts unfairly target immigrants and lambasted the government for what they perceived as political maneuvering to boost approval ratings.
In response to these criticisms, Miller detailed the inclusion of targets for temporary residents in the plan, which aims to reduce their share of the population by 2027. Initiatives to regulate temporary foreign worker numbers and student visas have been implemented as part of this broader strategy. Despite calls from advocacy groups like the Migrant Rights Network for broader regularization of undocumented migrants, the government has opted against such measures, prompting further calls for a focus on rights and permanent residency for all migrants.
