In the upcoming budget presentation on Tuesday, Canadians will be informed about the adjustments being made by the federal government to its immigration approach. This comes amidst shifting public sentiments towards immigration and follows a previous reduction in immigration targets by Ottawa last year.
Prime Minister Mark Carney stated, “We are taking steps to manage immigration effectively,” while addressing students at the University of Ottawa in October. He emphasized the need to align immigration levels with the country’s requirements and capacities, mentioning that the new immigration plan outlined in the budget aims to enhance outcomes for newcomers and the broader population.
The Trudeau administration had scaled back immigration levels following a significant surge during the post-pandemic labor shortages.
In 2024, the government announced a reduction in the target for permanent residents from 500,000 to 395,000 for the current year, with further decreases planned for the future. Simultaneously, there was a 10% cut in the cap for international student permits as indicated.
For the first time since polling began in 1996, a majority of Canadians expressed concerns about the influx of immigrants into Canada, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Recent research by the Environics Institute indicates a growing belief among more than half of Canadians that the country is accepting too many immigrants. J.P. Tasker from CBC delves into these findings, while Power & Politics seeks insights from former federal immigration minister Jason Kenney on the declining support, particularly among Conservative voters.
Usha George, a professor specializing
