Trudeau says he could have acted faster to make immigration changes, blames 'bad actors'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged that the federal government could have acted more swiftly in regulating immigration programs, after criticizing "bad actors" who exploited the system.

In a nearly seven-minute video posted on YouTube Sunday, Trudeau discussed the recent reduction in permanent residents being admitted to Canada, as well as changes to the temporary foreign worker program.

Over the next two years, the permanent residency stream will be reduced by around 20 percent, dropping to 365,000 in 2027.

Trudeau explained that the need to increase immigration after pandemic lockdowns lifted was crucial to boosting the labor market, which helped prevent a full recession. However, he stated that some "bad actors" took advantage of these immigration programs.

"Some saw that as a profit, to game the system. We saw way too many large corporations do this," he said in the video.

Trudeau also pointed out that "too many" colleges and universities used international student programs to boost their finances, given that non-Canadian students pay significantly higher tuition fees. Additionally, he highlighted that scammers targeted "vulnerable immigrants" with fraudulent citizenship offers.

"Looking back, when the post-pandemic boom cooled and businesses no longer needed the additional labor help, as a federal team we could have acted quicker and turned off the taps faster," Trudeau remarked.

The prime minister went on to explain the government's new immigration plan, which aims to reduce the number of permanent and temporary immigrants entering Canada.

In addition to a gradual decrease in new permanent residents over the next two years, the changes also make it more challenging for employers to obtain temporary worker permits.

The objective of these adjustments, according to Trudeau, is to stabilize population growth while the housing market catches up, with a possible gradual increase in immigration rates in the future.

In response, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s spokesperson, Sebastian Skamski, referred to an interview where Poilievre criticized the current immigration system, pointing out that Trudeau's recent remarks suggest a contradiction in his policy.

"Now, he's basically denouncing his entire immigration policy and expecting us to believe that he can fix the problems that he caused," Poilievre said.

Poilievre emphasized the need to fix immigration by returning to a system that had successfully brought refugees and immigrants to Canada in the past, citing his own wife’s immigration as an example.

He also previously suggested linking immigration rates to available housing, healthcare, and job opportunities.

A source from the Prime Minister's Office clarified that the video was intended to further communicate government policy to the Canadian public. Regarding concerns over increased irregular migration due to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation promises, the official confirmed that the video was filmed before the U.S. election.