Ottawa plans to cap temporary resident immigration for the first time this fall

Canada's immigration minister Mark Miller announced Thursday that in the fall (September), when Canada sets immigration levels, it will for the first time set a minimum number of new temporary resident immigrants to the country. The federal government plans to reduce the number of temporary resident holders from 6.2 percent to 5 percent over the next three years.

Canada has seen a sharp increase in the number of temporary residents. As Miller has said in the past, the country is "addicted" to temporary resident workers. "Changes are needed to make the system more efficient and more sustainable," Miller said at a news conference. "We need to have an honest conversation about the implications of increased international immigration for Canada."

The increase in population in Canada has led to intense scrutiny of the country's immigration policies, especially temporary residence routes. Canada's population increased by more than 430,000 in the third quarter of 2023, marking the fastest quarterly population growth since 1957. Almost three-quarters of this growth came from temporary residents.

The number of temporary residents in Canada increased due to increased enrollment of international students as well as increased use of "temporary resident worker programs." Canada has also taken in significant numbers of immigrants in response to humanitarian crises, including nearly 300,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.

Earlier this year, Miller cut the number of international student visas by more than a third. He said he would convene a meeting of provincial, territorial and federal ministers in May to discuss immigration levels.

Businesses currently allowed to hire up to 30 percent of their workforce through the Temporary Resident Foreign Worker program will drop from 20 percent, Labor Secretary Randy Boissono said. But the health care and construction sectors will be exempted from this change.

The government also asked employers to consider asylum seekers with valid work permits for jobs before applying for temporary resident foreign workers.

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