Nearly 4 Million new Canadian Residents, now PM Trudeau forced to slow immigration down

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

Canada, November 6, 2024 – Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau has vowed to “significantly reduce” the number of new immigrants it allows into the country after acknowledging that his Government failed to get the balance right coming out of the pandemic.

His administration was criticised for its plan to allow 500,000 new permanent residents into the country in each of the next two years. Last Thursday, the Prime Minister said next year’s target will now be 395,000 new permanent residents and that the figure will drop to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.

“In the tumultuous times as, we emerged from the pandemic, between addressing labour needs and maintaining population growth, we didn’t get the balance right,” the PM said, adding that “immigration is essential for Canada’s future, but it must be controlled, and it must be sustainable.”

Mr. Trudeau, who is facing calls from within his own party not to seek a fourth term, has endured mounting criticism over his immigration policies and the negative impact that population growth has had on housing affordability. He said his Government will reduce the number of immigrants Canada, brings in over the next three years, and that this will freeze population growth over the next two years.

Canada reached 41 million people in April. The population was 37.5 million in 2019.

He said Canada needs to stabilise its population growth to allow all levels of Government to make necessary changes to health care, housing, and social services so that it can accommodate more people in the future, while also casting blame on people who abuse immigrants.

“Far too many corporations have chosen to abuse our temporary measures, exploiting foreign workers while refusing to hire Canadians for a fair wage. All while under the watch of provinces, some colleges and universities are bringing in more international students than communities can accommodate, treating them as an expendable means to line their own pockets. That is unacceptable, and it needs to change,” the PM said.

Prime Minister Trudeau’s Government has long touted Canada’s immigration policy and how Canada is better than peer countries in welcoming newcomers and integrating them into the economy.

Since PM Trudeau was elected in 2015, his Government has raised annual permanent resident targets from 272,000 to 485,000 this year. The biggest jump was seen in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic. His administration has have been criticised for increasing immigration without bolstering services or housing construction, and economists have warned that Canada’s rapidly growing population has put a strain on housing and public services like healthcare.