The federal government’s dramatic immigration U-turn will mean an equally dramatic population growth U-turn. Though it will involve challenges, this course correction is likely to result in significant benefits for Canadians.
In October, the Trudeau government acknowledged growing opposition to high immigration and slashed the number of permanent residents to be admitted annually by 21 per cent — from a planned 500,000 in 2025, down to 395,000. The 2025–27 Immigration Levels Plan also, for the first time, includes formal caps on the numbers of international students and foreign workers — part of Ottawa’s effort to reduce temporary residents to five per cent of the population.
