Canada is reducing the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan with the goal of pausing
population growth in the short term.
The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC, said today, that the announced plan focuses on controlled targets for temporary residents, specifically international students and foreign workers, as well as permanent residents.
The plan will also result in a marginal population decline of 0.2% in both 2025 and 2026 before returning to a population growth of 0.8% in 2027.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said “Today’s announcement is the next step in our plan to address evolving immigration needs of our country.”
“While it’s clear our economy needs newcomers, we see the pressures facing our country, and we must adapt our policies accordingly,” said the minister.
In a statement on its website, The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association, CILA, condemned Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027. “Immigrants are a key component of Canada’s prosperity and drastic cuts to permanent and temporary resident levels will create significant economic, fiscal and social damage to the country,” said the association of lawyers.
The Co-President of CILA said, “Canada’s fundamental need for immigration has not changed.”
“We still have an aging population, low birth rate, and pressing economic and fiscal pressures, hence it is unwise to cut immigration at a time when newcomers are actually enhancing Canada’s living standards,” noted the Co-President.
Lou Janssen Dangzalan, Member, Board of Directors of CILA, said “Cutting immigration will cause significant humanitarian harm to people inside Canada and around the world.”
Canada’s 2023-2025 Immigration Levels plan focuses on economy and labour
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said the plan is disappointing for businesses across the country, that in recent months have had to deal with abrupt and constant changes to immigration policy.
“Significantly decreasing our labour pool will impact thousands of these employers across Canada struggling to find the workforce they need to operate and grow.
“Today’s announcement will also reduce Canada’s capacity to attract foreign investment,” said the chamber.
“These changes will help provinces, territories and stakeholders align their capacities and allow the population to grow at a sustainable pace as we encourage institutions do their part in better welcoming newcomers,” said the IRCC.