Trudeau expected to lay out major immigration changes

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Marc Miller are scheduled to announce significant changes to Canada’s immigration system on Thursday.

According to three sources cited by Global News, the changes will be substantial, with one source indicating a planned reduction in the number of permanent residents admitted annually and adjustments to temporary immigration streams.

On Wednesday, Trudeau hinted at the shift during a speech in the House of Commons, suggesting Canada would adapt its immigration strategy.

“We continue to be a country that understands that immigration is a source of opportunity and growth and richness for this country. One of the other great advantages we have is we have an immigration system that is able to adjust to different realities,” said Trudeau.

He noted that immigration levels had risen after the pandemic but that circumstances have since evolved.

“In the years after the pandemic, there was a need for more temporary workers, there was a desire for more international students, and we let more in — working with the provinces and businesses across the country. As we see the situation shift, as the labour market shifts, we’re making changes to the immigration system,” he explained.

Canada had previously aimed to welcome 500,000 permanent residents in 2025 and planned to sustain this target into 2026. Since the Liberals took office, annual permanent resident admissions have increased by 59 per cent.

However, a government source told Reuters that the new strategy will gradually reduce admissions to 365,000 by 2027, down from the expected 485,000 in 2024. Temporary resident numbers will also decrease by approximately 30,000, bringing the total to 300,000 in 2025, the source said.

These adjustments follow a series of reductions in immigration targets. In March, the federal government set limits on temporary resident admissions for the first time, aiming to align growth with sustainability.

Miller stated that Canada currently has 2.5 million temporary residents, representing 6.2 per cent of the population, and the government plans to reduce this to five per cent over the next three years.

Migrant advocacy groups have criticized the cuts, warning they could leave vulnerable migrant workers with fewer pathways to residency.

“We are witnessing one of the most egregious rollbacks of migrant rights in Canadian history,” said Syed Hussan, spokesperson for the Migrant Rights Network.

“Cutting permanent resident numbers is a direct assault on migrants who will be forced to remain temporary or become undocumented, pushed further into exploitative jobs,” Hussan added.