Canada Cuts Permanent Residency Slots to Manage Population Growth

The Canadian government has announced a reduction in the number of permanent residency applications in an effort to manage population growth. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller revealed on Thursday that instead of the previously planned 500,000 annual slots, the country will be lowering these numbers for the next three years, effective from 2025.

According to the new Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will welcome 395,000 permanent residents in 2025, followed by 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027. Minister Miller explained that this approach aims to pause short-term population growth to facilitate well-managed, sustainable growth in the long run.

“The levels plan includes controlled targets for temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers, in addition to permanent residents,” he stated.

“This announcement represents the next step in our strategy to address the changing immigration needs of our country. While we recognize the importance of newcomers to our economy, we must also respond to the pressures facing our communities and adapt our policies accordingly.”

Miller emphasized that these changes will help ensure that immigration benefits the country as a whole, providing citizens with access to quality jobs, housing, and necessary support.

He reassured Canadians that the government is committed to maintaining the integrity of the immigration system while responsibly managing population growth.

Additionally, the Levels Plan aims to reduce the volume of temporary residents to 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2026. This will result in a projected decline of 445,901 temporary residents in 2025, 445,662 in 2026, and a modest increase of 17,439 in 2027.

Canada’s population has surged in recent years, reaching 41 million by April 2024, with immigration accounting for nearly 98% of this growth in 2023, of which 60% was due to temporary residents.