Recently Immigration Minister Marc Miller said that over the next three years, the number will be reduced, with the first cap to be set in September. It will apply to foreign workers, foreign students, and asylum claimants. The minister has spoken before about revising immigration targets due to an affordability and housing crisis.
In his announcement, Miller said that Canada plans to reduce the amount of temporary residents to 5% of the population, down from the current 6.2%. He added that the move is to ensure sustainable growth in the amount of temporary residents coming into Canada. In recent years, Miller said Canada has seen a sharp increase of temporary residents admitted to the country.
As of 2024, the minister said in Canada there are a total of 2.5 million temporary residents. This is up from nearly one million in 2021, according to figures from the national data collection agency Statistics Canada. To fill labor shortages, the country depends mainly on temporary foreign workers but Mr. Miller noted that changes are required to make the system more efficient.
It also has international responsibilities to let in those who are escaping from the war and political prosecution. He also added that these are important global commitments to Canadians. At the same time, there should be an honest conversation about what the increase in international migration means for Canada as we plan.
As part of the new policy, officials said some Canadian businesses will have to lessen the number of temporary foreign workers they rely on by 1 May, and will have a shorter window to show that these occupations cannot be filled by a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. Two exceptions to the rule will be workers in the healthcare sectors and construction – both of which are facing labor shortages in Canada. These workers will be allowed to enter the country at current levels until 31 August.
According to Statistics Canada, In 2021 the majority of temporary residents is around 40% but they had a work permit. Students represented 22% of temporary residents, and asylum claimants accounted for 18%. Others had a combination of permits – either study and visa or are family members of temporary residents. Earlier this year, Mr. Miller also set a limit for the next two years on the number of international students admitted to Canada, resulting in a planned reduction of 35% in approved study permits.
In 2022 there was over 800,000 foreign students in Canada up from 214,000 a decade earlier. That move has also been criticized, namely by some post-secondary institutions across the country, who said that they fear that it will discourage students from coming to Canada and drive them to study in another country.
Some universities said a cap would mean a loss of income for their institutions. The caps represent a significant shift in policy for Canada, which has historically relied on open immigration to fill job vacancies and address its fast-aging workforce.
They come as the Trudeau government faces growing pressure to address a high-priced housing market. Home prices in Canada now average C$700,000 ($517,400; £408,750) and within the last two years, the rent for Canadians has increased by 22%.
