Canada to slash PR numbers as public support drops
Permanent resident numbers to be cut by over 100,000 amid rising concerns. A poll showed that 58 pc of Canadians are now opposed to immigration
3 min read
Public opinion on immigration has shifted sharply, with a recent poll showing that 58 per cent of Canadians now believe immigration levels are too high, up 14 percentage points from the previous year, according to research from the Environics Institute. (Representational Image)Ottawa is preparing to announce a significant reduction in the number of permanent residents it plans to admit, a sharp departure from its previous immigration policies as public support for higher immigration levels continues to decline. According to The Globe and Mail, the number of permanent residents will drop from 485,000 this year to 395,000 in 2025, with further cuts to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027, based on information from a senior government source.
This policy shift comes amid growing concerns about the impact of immigration on housing affordability, and follows a freeze in immigration targets by Immigration Minister Marc Miller last year. The cuts being introduced go beyond previous measures, which held the number of permanent residents steady at half a million. For the first time, the government will also introduce targets for temporary residents, including international students and workers, aiming to reduce their proportion of the population from 6.5 per cent to 5 per cent over the next three years. Temporary residents currently make up 7.3 per cent of the population.
Public opinion on immigration has shifted sharply, with a recent poll showing that 58 per cent of Canadians now believe immigration levels are too high, up 14 percentage points from the previous year, according to research from the Environics Institute. Syed Hussan of the Migrants Rights Network criticised the reductions, calling them an attempt to appease xenophobic concerns about migrants and their perceived role in the housing crisis. He also warned against cuts to refugee admissions, saying it would undermine Canada’s commitments under the Geneva Convention.
Canada’s population now stands at 41.7 million, and some argue that reducing immigration could hurt sectors like healthcare and construction. Lisa Lalande, CEO of the Century Initiative, told The Globe and Mail that maintaining high immigration levels is crucial for addressing labour shortages and supporting economic growth, given Canada’s aging population and low fertility rates. She called the proposed reductions a “categorical mistake.”
Others in the business community, like Diana Palmerin-Velasco of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, echoed these concerns, urging the government to maintain a strong focus on economic-class immigration to meet labour market needs. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also criticised the government’s approach, accusing the Prime Minister of inconsistency on immigration policy.
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