Canada has announced reductions in targets for permanent resident admissions over the next three years as part of plans to cut immigration.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly affirmed that the move is Canada’s efforts to put its citizens at the forefront of economic opportunities.
The prime minister and Marc Miller, minister of immigration, refugees, and citizenship, on Thursday unveiled the country’s 2025–2027 immigration levels plan in a joint statement.
The layout aims to reduce permanent residents from 500,000 last year to 395,000 by 2025.
In 2026, 500,000 permanent residents will be reduced to 380,000, and in 2027, the total would fall to 365,000.
The move comes about two months after the prime minister said that the government would reduce its intake of foreign labour.
Miller said:
“Today’s announcement is the next step in our plan to address the evolving immigration needs of our country. While it’s clear our economy needs newcomers, we see the pressures facing our country, and we must adapt our policies accordingly.”
“These changes will make immigration work for our country so that everyone has access to the quality jobs, homes, and supports they need to thrive. We have listened to Canadians, and we will continue to protect the integrity of our system and grow our population responsibly.”
The levels plan will also help to lower temporary resident numbers to 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2026.
These cutbacks are the result of a series of measures over the last year, including a ban on international students and stricter qualifying standards for temporary foreign workers.