Canada, renowned as one of the most hospitable countries for newcomers among developed nations, has unveiled its intentions to reduce the number of temporary residents over the upcoming three years.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s announcement on Thursday marks the second significant policy shift by the Trudeau administration regarding immigration, following an earlier cap on international student visas this year.
In their coverage of the announcement, Global News quoted Minister Miller stating that Canada was host to 2.5 million temporary residents in 2023, constituting 6.2% of its total population. Minister Miller expressed the government’s aim to lower this percentage to 5% over the next three years.
“To set these targets, I’ll be convening a meeting with my provincial and territorial counterparts, as well as other relevant ministers, in early May,” Miller told journalists. “Provinces and territories know their unique labor needs and capacity, and need to assume responsibility for the people that they bring in as well.”
Canada has long been a favored destination for immigrants and refugees worldwide due to its reputation as a friendly, safe, and developed nation with a thriving multicultural environment.
However, in recent years, Canada has encountered challenges such as soaring housing shortages and extended medical wait times, often attributed to a sharp increase in immigration. Insights from immigration specialists on social media suggest that this week’s announcement may be a strategic response to address growing public discontent with high-volume immigration.
According to information from the Government of Canada website, in 2022, more than 437,000 new permanent residents and over 604,000 temporary workers arrived in Canada.
VOA reports that it is currently unclear who falls under the category of temporary residents. The Government of Canada website broadly defines temporary residents as “including visitors, students, workers, and temporary resident permit holders.”
Experts indicate that this term could encompass unauthorized or undocumented workers, holders of “super visa holders” permitted to stay for up to two years without working or studying, and “non-permanent residents” — a term used by Statistics Canada to describe individuals with work permits, study permits, or those seeking refugee status. Temporary foreign workers are also likely included.
Canada, with a total population of 38.25 million, witnessed a substantial increase in visitors and temporary residents last year.
