Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed the government’s intention to curb the influx of temporary immigrants into the country, emphasizing the need to bring the situation “under control.”
Addressing a housing announcement in Dartmouth, N.S., Trudeau highlighted the significant growth in temporary foreign workers and international students, which has outpaced Canada’s capacity to absorb them.
“In 2017, temporary immigrants made up two per cent of Canada’s population. Now, that figure has risen to 7.5 per cent,” Trudeau stated. “This expansion is causing mental health challenges for international students and leading to increased reliance on temporary foreign workers, thereby putting downward pressure on wages in certain sectors.”
Trudeau emphasized the importance of reducing these numbers, asserting that it is a responsible approach to immigration. He underlined the government’s commitment to maintaining levels of permanent residents while reining in temporary immigration, which has strained communities.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that Ottawa would establish targets for temporary residents entering Canada to ensure sustainable growth. The aim over the next three years is to decrease the proportion of temporary residents to five per cent of Canada’s population.
Meanwhile, Canada aims to admit 485,000 new permanent residents, with plans to increase this to 500,000 in 2025 and 2026.
In the latest immigration plan update, the government indicated its intent to “recalibrate” the number of temporary admissions to Canada to ensure a sustainable system.
In January, Minister Miller announced a cap on student visa admissions at 360,000 permits, marking a 35 per cent decrease from 2023.
