Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has announced plans to significantly reduce the number of temporary immigrants entering the country. This move marks the end of an era of uncapped temporary immigration. Currently, there are no plans to offer permanent residency to undocumented migrants already in Canada.
Miller highlighted that this change won’t happen overnight but is a necessary adjustment in response to shifting public opinion and economic pressures. In 2019, Canada issued over 500,000 study permits and work visas, but by the end of 2023, that number had grown to over 1.6 million.
This rapid increase has coincided with rising concerns about housing affordability and the impact of immigration on the economy. A recent survey revealed that 60% of Canadians believe there are too many immigrants coming to the country.
In response, Miller has capped study permit applications at 606,250 for this year, which is expected to reduce the number of new permits by 40%. Additionally, the government plans to unveil further measures to limit temporary immigration in September.
However, some economists are warning that cutting back on temporary immigration could harm Canada’s economic growth. They argue that immigration boosts the economy by increasing the labor force and consumer demand. With fewer temporary residents, there could be challenges in sustaining economic growth, especially as the country faces the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation.