The Canadian government is planning a substantial decrease in the intake of temporary residents in the country over the upcoming years. As per the details outlined in the latest budget, Canada aims to admit only 385,000 temporary residents in the next year, which is approximately 43% lower than the target set for 2025. Subsequently, the numbers are planned to reduce further to 370,000 in the subsequent two years.
This revised target for 2026 signifies a 25% decrease compared to the previous immigration plan, which had proposed welcoming over 516,000 temporary residents. The government’s focus appears to be shifting towards managing the influx of temporary residents as it endeavors to control the overall number of immigrants entering Canada.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne emphasized the government’s goal of bringing immigration to more sustainable levels during a pre-budget news conference. He mentioned that the capacity to accommodate newcomers had been stretched to its limits, prompting the need for a strategic reduction in immigration levels.
Under the leadership of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the government had already initiated a reduction in immigration following a surge in numbers during the post-pandemic labor shortage period. The previous plan had also highlighted the intention to decrease the share of temporary residents in Canada’s population.
The latest budget highlighted a significant decrease in the number of temporary foreign workers and international student arrivals this year compared to 2024. Additionally, there has been a notable reduction in asylum claims by approximately one-third. The government is aiming to grant permanent residency to 380,000 immigrants annually over the next three years, consistent with the previous plan.
The new immigration targets align with the changing attitudes towards immigration in Canada, as indicated by a recent poll showing that a majority of Canadians believe the country is admitting too many immigrants. The government’s focus on immigration will emphasize economic needs, aiming to attract skilled individuals while increasing the share of economic migrants in the permanent resident stream.
To address challenges faced by immigrants, the government announced a reallocation of funds towards expediting the recognition of foreign credentials. Furthermore, the budget includes initiatives to accelerate the permanent residency status of specific groups, such as work permit holders and protected persons awaiting residency approval.
Despite the government’s intentions to streamline immigration processes and prioritize economic migrants, some advocacy groups have criticized the plan. Migrant Rights Network spokesperson Syed Hussan described the government’s approach as an unjust targeting of refugees and migrants, attributing societal issues to migrants instead of addressing underlying systemic problems.