PM Carney announces cap on temporary immigration to remain in place
Ottawa: Prime Minister Mark Carney laid out some of his government’s priorities, including immigration, during his first press conference after the elections here on Friday.
He made it clear that immigration restrictions announced by the previous government will remain in place until immigration reaches a “sustainable level.” He intends to achieve this goal by capping temporary workers and international students at 5 per cent of the total population by 2027, down from 7.3 percent.
The Prime Minister said the decision will help ease pressure on housing, public infrastructure, and social services in the country.
Speaking with the press, Carney said, “At the same time, we will work to attract the best talent in the world to build our economy.”
“Canada has what everyone wants. We’re a confident nation. It celebrates our diversity, believes in and practices free speech, respects the rule of law, and has a vibrant democracy. We value innovators and builders. We trust science, and we protect our magnificent natural heritage.”
In his press conference, the Prime Minister made an appeal to Canadians living abroad.
He said, “For Canadians abroad thinking about returning to build their lives in our nation, there has never been a better time to come home.”
Immigration has been one of the dominant issues over the past year. The Justin Trudeau government had faced criticism over a surge in immigration.
In its election platform, the Liberal Party of Canada announced measures to balance immigration in the coming years. As per estimates, more than 200,000 international student work permits will expire this year, making the transition to permanent residency more difficult.
The Liberal Party also plans to keep permanent resident admissions stable at less than 1% of Canada’s population annually beyond 2027, aiming to attract top global talent with a focus on driving economic growth and prosperity.
The party also plans to work with provinces and territories to streamline and speed up the recognition of foreign credentials and international professional experience.
Before the elections, the party also spoke about reducing backlogs and processing immigration files more quickly. In his election campaign, Carney announced a target of 12% for Francophone immigration outside Quebec by 2029.However, announcements made in the Liberal Party platform and the Prime Minister’s first post-election press conference have failed to allay the fears of temporary residents whose permits are expiring soon.
