The Trudeau government will significantly reduce immigration quotas in 2025, with the number of permanent residents decreasing from 485000 in 2024 to 395000, and continuing to decrease in the following years, from 380000 in 2026 to 365000 in 2027. This is in stark contrast to the previous Canadian government's policy of increasing immigration targets year by year.
Economic immigrants will be the most severely affected, with permanent resident quotas in federal economic programs expected to decrease by 60% to approximately 41000 people. The immigration quota for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will also be reduced by half, to 55000 people, and maintained until 2027. The number of family reunion immigrants, refugees, and protected persons will also decrease by about 20000 each.
The quota for temporary residents will also be reduced, with a planned decrease of about 30000 by 2025, with a target of slightly over 300000. Previously, Immigration Minister Mark Miller stated that the government hopes to reduce the proportion of temporary residents in the total population from 6.5% to 5.2%, in response to the sharp increase in the number of international students, temporary foreign workers, and refugee applicants in recent years.
This policy shift was proposed after some members of the Liberal Party expressed widespread dissatisfaction with Trudeau and his policies. It is reported that at the party meeting on Wednesday, dozens of lawmakers expressed concerns about the current immigration level, housing shortage, and medical pressure, prompting the government to decide to reduce the number of immigrants.
Although immigration cuts are expected to ease pressure on housing and healthcare systems, they may pose challenges for employers, especially those industries that rely on new immigrants to fill labor market gaps. The government is also facing the dual pressure of balancing immigration numbers while meeting economic needs.
Background: Since 2015, the number of immigrants in Canada has been increasing year by year, with over 400000 permanent residents admitted for the first time in 2022 and a target of 485000 in 2024. This reduction marks a significant shift in government policy aimed at rebalancing Canada's immigration system.
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https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/trudeau-government-lower-immigration-2025