In an upcoming budget announcement, Canadians will be briefed on the federal government’s adjustments to its immigration approach in response to shifting public sentiments towards immigration. This move follows a previous reduction in immigration targets by the Ottawa administration last year.
During a speech at the University of Ottawa, Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the government’s efforts to manage immigration more effectively by aligning levels with the country’s needs and capacities. The new immigration plan, to be outlined in the budget, aims to enhance outcomes for newcomers and society as a whole.
In response to a surge in immigration post-pandemic, the Trudeau government decreased the target for permanent residents in 2024 from 500,000 to 395,000, with further reductions planned for future years. Concurrently, the cap on international student permits was also lowered by 10%.
Recent polling by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada revealed that a majority of Canadians now believe that the country is admitting too many immigrants, marking a shift in public opinion since 1996.
Usha George, a professor specializing in newcomer settlement at Toronto Metropolitan University, noted that the influx of immigrants post-pandemic strained public services like housing, transportation, and healthcare due to the large number of arrivals.
Although Canada’s overall unemployment rate stood at 7.1% in September, recent immigrants faced a higher unemployment rate of 11.1% last year, doubling the rate for Canadian-born individuals. Additionally, immigrants were more likely to work in fields unrelated to their education or training compared to native-born Canadians.
The government’s relaxation of standards for economic immigrants’ qualifications and skills post-COVID has raised concerns among experts like Phil Triadafilopoulos from the University of Toronto. While acknowledging the need for high-skilled labor in emerging industries, some business leaders stress the importance of a targeted immigration approach focusing on sectors like semiconductors, AI, cybersecurity, and digital public infrastructure.
With recent changes to U.S. visa policies, there are calls for Canada to attract specialized talent and capitalize on the opportunity to bring back Canadians who had migrated for American jobs. However, challenges such as delays in the immigration system, lower salaries, and expensive housing hinder the Canadian tech sector’s ability to attract talent.
While some view the H-1B visa changes as a chance to draw talent to Canada, others caution against making major policy shifts solely based on these alterations. The complexity of Canada’s economic immigration system can result in prolonged wait times, affecting both highly qualified individuals and businesses seeking to recruit them.
