In an interview with CTV News on August 26, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Marc Miller revealed that he is considering changes to Canada’s permanent immigration levels.
Miller mentioned that he is “exploring a variety of options” to manage permanent immigration and emphasized that any adjustments would be “substantial” rather than merely “cosmetic.” When pressed for details on what these “substantial” changes might involve, the Minister indicated that “all options are on the table.”
In the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan, Minister Miller explained that there would be “deliberations on whether to reduce certain types of immigration,” noting that 60% of immigration is currently focused on economic immigrants—a proportion he described as “unprecedented” compared to other countries similar to Canada.
However, he also stressed the importance of avoiding an “overcorrection” in future levels. Miller highlighted that immigration played a crucial role in helping Canada stave off a recession during the COVID-19 pandemic and assured that any future decisions would be made “thoughtfully.”
The Immigration Levels Plan, published annually by the federal immigration department, outlines the number of new permanent residents Canada aims to welcome. This plan is updated each year, setting targets for the upcoming year and the following two years, and serves as a key operational guide for IRCC.
A year of transformation
Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s remarks come amid declining public support for immigration in Canada. Multiple polls over the past year have indicated a drop in support during 2023, largely due to heightened pressures on housing availability and overall affordability.
In response to these concerns, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has already taken steps to reduce the influx of temporary residents (those on work or study permits, or with visitor visas/electronic Travel Authorizations (eTAs)). This includes the unprecedented decision to include temporary resident levels in the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan.
To further this objective, the immigration department has implemented several measures, such as:
- Introducing a cap on study permits for international students;
- Announcing plans to prioritize more “domestic” permanent residence draws; and
- Restricting the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers in census metropolitan areas with unemployment rates above 6%.
During his interview with CTV, Minister Miller also elaborated on these ongoing efforts: “I still have adjustments to make in the International Student Program… as part of a comprehensive package that we are continuing to roll out,” Miller stated. He added that some of the measures under consideration by the immigration department would be announced “in the fall.”
These views were echoed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently stated, “We’re exploring various avenues to ensure that Canada remains a welcoming nation with positive support for immigration, while also being responsible in how we integrate and provide pathways to success for everyone.”
Additionally, as of last year, IRCC has frozen permanent resident immigration levels at the 2025 targets, maintaining these levels through 2026. The immigration levels for 2025 and 2026 are currently set at 500,000 per year, but they may be adjusted to meet Canada’s evolving immigration needs.
The necessity of immigration
As immigration emerges as a key issue for Canadians in 2024, it has significant effects on various facets of Canadian society. For instance, nearly all of Canada’s labor market growth is attributed to immigration. The need for immigrant workers becomes increasingly critical in light of the country’s aging population and the substantial number of workers approaching retirement who will exit the workforce in the coming years.
Moreover, considering Canada’s publicly funded healthcare, pension, education, and housing systems, a slowdown in population growth could have adverse downstream impacts on these essential services.
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