In short:
- The Liberal government hopes to reduce the non-permanent resident population to 5% by 2027.
- At around three million, the non-permanent residents currently stand at 7% of the total Canadian population.
- This means that the Carney government have no other option but to get as many temporary residents out of Canada as possible in the next two years.
Rising immigration levels in the last few years have put enormous pressure on the healthcare system and available housing, and kept wages stagnant in Canada. This has turned the public opinion against uncontrolled immigration in recent years, forcing the Liberal government to commit to bringing the total immigration down to manageable levels.
What changes can you expect from the Carney administration?
As of now, the Carney government is nowhere close to meeting their stated goal of bringing the percentage of temporary residents down to 5% of the total Canadian population. While they have implemented measures to bring down the current immigration levels, the percentage of temporary residents is still hovering at 7% and it does not appear to be coming down any time soon.
Strong Borders Act expected to pass soon
To achieve these immigration goals, the Carney government had introduced the Strong Borders Act back in June, with provisions to expand the powers of law enforcement authorities in order to pause and cancel the acceptance and processing of immigration applications, such as applications for visas and work permits, and restrict access to asylum seekers already in Canada. The proposed bill will also expand information sharing with international agencies and surveillance capabilities.
Once passed, the Bill will authorize the immigration officials to cancel or suspend such immigration applications en masse in the public interest. In fact, Ottawa recently reduced the Immigration Department workforce by 3,300, while recruiting an additional 1,000 border officers. This is a possible indication of things to come.
Canada still needs more skilled economic immigrants
However, on the ground, there is still a growing demand for skilled economic immigrants in fields such as healthcare, STEM, agriculture, and other skilled trades. Already, the spots for the provincial immigration program have been reduced from 110,000 to 55,000 through 2027. This has raised concerns about whether such a measure would adversely affect the ability of the provinces to meet their job market requirement for skilled workers. Critics point out that instead of reducing the slots allotted to the provinces, the federal government must give more leeway to the provinces to decide on the number of skilled economic immigrants they require based on the demands of their job market.
Conclusion:
As things stand now, the 5% target is increasingly looking unrealistic. The challenge for the Administration is to reach this target without compromising the immigration of skilled workers to meet the rising demands of the economy. The new Bill will empower the Administration to take further measures to get many of the temporary residents out of Canada. The focus will be on getting some of the low-skilled workers and asylum seekers out by 2027. The eligibility criteria are expected to be tightened, with applicants with even minor criminal records getting rejected under the new rules.
How can our immigration lawyers help you in the case?
With the administration implementing stricter rules and regulations, it might be difficult for the average layman to keep up with the changes and figure out the most suitable immigration pathway for them. If you are planning to apply for permanent residency or a work permit in Canada, do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team for a consultation. Our experienced immigration lawyers can help you check your eligibility under the new rules and effectively guide you through the application process.
Call our immigration lawyers at 905-405-0199 for a free consultation today.
