In a striking move in its movement arrangement, Canada plans to diminish the number of foreigners it will acknowledge in the up and coming a long time. Concurring to a government source cited by Reuters, the reexamined targets will lower the number of unused changeless occupants from 485,000 in 2024 to 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. This decision represents the first reduction in immigration targets by the Canadian government in several years.

The anticipated number of temporary residents is expected to decline, with projections for 2025 estimating a total of 300,000, representing a decrease of 30,000 from earlier figures. This policy shift was first reported by The National Post.

Canada has long been recognized for its inviting position towards newcomers. However, recent years have seen a transformation in this perception, largely driven by a national discourse surrounding escalating housing costs. As interest rates have risen over the past two years, the issue of home affordability has become increasingly urgent for many Canadians. The influx of immigrants has further exacerbated the situation, leading to unprecedented demand for housing and consequently driving prices higher.

Immigration has become a pivotal topic in Canadian political discussions, particularly with a federal election scheduled for October 2025. There appears to be a shift in public sentiment, with a growing number of Canadians voicing concerns regarding current immigration levels. Additionally, there has been an uptick in hate crimes targeting visible minorities, as highlighted by community advocates.

Advocates for migrants have condemned the government’s actions. Syed Hussan, a agent of the Vagrant Rights Organize Secretariat, expressed to Reuters, “We are seeing one of the most noteworthy rollbacks of transient rights in Canadian history. Reducing the number of permanent residents is a direct attack on migrants, forcing them to remain in temporary status or risk becoming undocumented, thereby pushing them further into exploitative employment.”

The newly implemented immigration strategy signifies a shift from the policies adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Canada relaxed regulations for temporary residents to mitigate labor shortages. In 2023, the government built up an driven target of inviting 500,000 unused changeless inhabitants each year by 2025 and 2026.

According to Statistics Canada, the number of temporary residents, which encompasses both students and workers, reached 2.8 million by the second quarter of 2024. In an interview conducted in August, Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that “Canadians desire a system that is manageable.” This initiative arises as the Liberal government, under Trudeau’s leadership, confronts increasing pressure due to declining poll ratings and internal party challenges.

In addition to decreasing the overall number of immigrants, the government is implementing measures to restrict the influx of temporary residents. The aim is to decrease their share of the population to 5% within the next three years, a reduction from the current 6.8% recorded in April. New limitations on international students have been established, along with more stringent regulations for the temporary foreign worker program, which has been criticized for offering low wages and fostering exploitative conditions.