Canada's Bold Move: New Measures for Temporary Immigration | Canada Immigration News

The Canadian government is set to introduce a range of measures aimed at curbing temporary immigration, with no current plans to implement a broad program offering status to undocumented residents, according to the country's immigration minister.

"The era of uncapped programs to come into this country is quickly coming to an end. This is a big shift. You can't just slam on the brakes and expect it to stop immediately," Marc Miller stated in an interview with Reuters.

Canada has historically been known for welcoming newcomers, and the current Liberal government has significantly increased the number of new residents, particularly temporary ones, to address labor shortages post-pandemic. However, in the past year, there has been growing concern that immigrants are exacerbating the housing and affordability crisis. A recent Leger poll revealed that 60% of respondents believe there are too many immigrants coming to Canada.

Miller acknowledged the changing sentiment, noting, "I'm not naive enough to think Canada is immune to the waves of anti-immigrant sentiment. ... Canadians want a system that is not out of control." He predicted that immigration would be a major issue in the next election, anticipated in late 2025.

Initial Measures and Future Plans

In January, the government introduced a two-year cap on international students, an area of the immigration system that had become "overheated" and was not intended to be "a backdoor entry into Canada," Miller explained.

In March, Canada announced its first-ever cap on temporary immigration, aiming to reduce temporary residents to 5% of the total population over the next three years, down from 6.2% in 2023. This would mean a 20% reduction from the 2.5 million temporary residents in 2023.

However, the Bank of Canada expressed skepticism about achieving this goal, noting that non-permanent residents comprised 6.8% of the population as of April and that this share is expected to rise in the near term. Despite this, Miller described the target as "reasonable" given the upcoming measures Canada plans to announce.

Miller hinted that these measures might include changes to post-graduate work permits and enforcement but did not provide specific details. When asked about potential mistakes in allowing rapid growth in temporary residents, he acknowledged that "Every government makes mistakes. I think we are all human," but emphasized the need to address labor shortages post-COVID.

Addressing Refugee Claims

Canada is also experiencing record levels of refugee claims, with more than 18,000 filed in June, despite efforts to deter asylum-seekers through a bilateral agreement with the United States and new visa requirements for Mexicans. While Canada cannot control the number of refugee claims, Miller suggested that stricter criteria for temporary resident visas could be implemented to prevent asylum-seekers from entering the country.

The government had previously considered a regularization program for undocumented residents, but this is not currently being pursued before the election. However, Miller indicated that sector-specific programs might be a possibility.

The upcoming measures reflect a significant shift in Canada's immigration policy, aiming to balance welcoming newcomers with maintaining control over the immigration system.