Canada considers resuming controlled immigration increases

Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that the Canadian government is preparing to resume a controlled increase in immigration following recent efforts to reduce numbers. Speaking to journalists in New York, Carney stated that measures to manage the population are under control, noting that foreign students and temporary foreign workers have decreased by 60 percent and 50 percent, respectively.

This proposal comes amid significant economic and social debate regarding Canada’s housing affordability and public services. Recent data from Statistics Canada revised population estimates, showing a gain of approximately 300,000 people in recent quarters, contrary to previous estimates of contraction. These revisions have also impacted economic indicators, with year-over-year per capita GDP growth dropping from 1.7 percent to 0.7 percent.

Despite government targets to limit temporary immigrants to 5 percent of the total population, recent estimates suggest they currently account for approximately 6.7 percent, or 2.78 million people. The immigration debate has gained political momentum, recently surfacing during the Quebec election campaign.