Ottawa Announces New Plans To Manage Temporary Residents Over Next 3 Years
The Canadian government has unveiled new measures to regulate the number of temporary residents entering the country on a yearly basis. Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced on March 21st that Ottawa will establish official targets to manage the percentage of foreign nationals residing in Canada on a temporary basis. Which has grown steadily in recent years to over 6% currently.
The targets, which will be the first of their kind, seek to lower the proportion of temporary residents to 5% of Canada’s total population by 2027. Miller stated “changes are needed to make the system more efficient and sustainable” as temporary entries have significantly increased. And the country risks becoming “addicted” to foreign labour. Provincial representatives will meet in May to provide input on setting appropriate levels.
New Rules Aim To Manage Flows Of Foreign Students And Workers
Additional changes will be implemented starting in May to certain sectors. The temporary foreign worker program maximum for businesses will drop from 30% to 20% of their staff. Excluding healthcare and construction. Employers must also consider asylum seekers with valid work permits before applying to bring in temporary residents from abroad. The measures aim to better align immigration with domestic job needs while curbing potential abuses of the system.
Miller said an “honest conversation” is needed regarding how rising international migration will impact Canada long-term as it develops policies. Temporary entries, especially of foreign students and low-skilled workers, have grown rapidly. But critics argue this reliance risks displacing Canadians from the labour force. The new targets and rules seek to find a balanced approach that satisfies economic demands but does not lose control over levels of temporary residents.
