Minister Marc Miller’s Official Statement on Canada’s Immigration-Reduction (October 2024)

Minister Marc Miller has presented a plan to reduce immigration to Canada to address pressures on housing and social services. The Minister emphasized that immigration remains a vital part of Canada’s economy but requires a more sustainable approach to managing immigration numbers.

1. Changes for Temporary Residents:

– Temporary Resident Proportion: In the past two years, 60% of total immigrants to Canada were temporary residents, including international students, temporary workers, and those in humanitarian programs.

– Reduction of International Students:

+ A cap on the number of international students and a requirement for provincial confirmation letters.

+ Result: In the first nine months of 2024, the number of international students decreased by 43% compared to 2023.

Decrease in Rental Prices: Rent for one- and two-bedroom apartments in Vancouver decreased by over 10%, and in Toronto by more than 8%.

– Temporary Worker Program: The government has ended temporary pandemic measures and implemented regulations to limit the number of low-wage workers, helping localities maintain sustainable population growth rates.

– Long-Term Target: Canada aims to reduce the temporary resident population to 5% of the total population by the end of 2026. The number of temporary residents will decrease as follows:

+ Reduction by 445,901 people in 2025.

+ Reduction by 445,662 people in 2026.

+ Slight increase of 17,439 people in 2027.

2. Permanent Resident Program:

– New Immigration Targets:

+ Decrease from 500,000 to 395,000 in 2025.

+ A further decrease to 380,000 in 2026.

+ The target of 365,000 by 2027.

– Reducing Housing Shortages: Lower immigration targets are expected to reduce housing shortages by around 670,000 units by the end of 2027.

– Transitioning Temporary Residents to Permanent Status: Over 40% of permanent residents will come from temporary residents already in Canada. These individuals will support the workforce without adding additional pressure on the social services system.

– Support for French-speaking immigrants: The government aims to welcome nearly 30,000 French-speaking immigrants by 2025 (about 8.5% of the total), increasing to 9.5% in 2026 and 10% in 2027 to support French-speaking communities outside Quebec.

3. Legalization for Undocumented Individuals:

The government will allow a small number of undocumented individuals, particularly those working in essential service sectors, to gain legal status through a special initiative.

The Canadian government is committed to meeting the country’s economic needs while addressing current challenges, such as housing and social services demand. Canada will pause immigration growth for two years, returning to pre-pandemic growth levels by 2027.