Canada is planning to change how it handles new people coming to live in the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his team are going to announce that they will allow fewer people to move to Canada.
For a long time, Canada welcomed more and more new people every year. Now, they are choosing to slow down. This will be officially announced on a Thursday.
By 2025, the government plans to let 90,000 fewer people come. Instead of bringing in 485,000 new residents, they will bring about 395,000. This means there will be fewer new faces in towns and cities.
What Are the New Targets?
Every year, the number of new people allowed to come will drop even more. In 2026, only 380,000 will be allowed. And in 2027, it will be 365,000.
This shows the government is taking a different viewpoint on welcoming newcomers. They are listening to what people think and looking at the country’s money situation.
Marc Miller, the Immigration Minister, will talk more about this on November 1st, 2024. It seems that jobs and work-related visas will be most affected by these changes.
Changes for Work Visas
Reports say that how many people can come to Canada to work will drop a lot. In 2025, just over 41,000 people will be allowed, which is 60% less than before.
This big drop means a lot fewer people will be able to move to Canada because of work opportunities. Even though more people will be allowed in 2026 and 2027, the numbers will still be much less than what was originally planned.
This includes different kinds of work programs, like farmers, caregivers, and skilled workers.
Programs by Province
People invited by the provinces will be cut in half. Only 55,000 will be accepted in 2025, and it will stay like that for a few years.
This could upset people who want to come in through these specific provincial paths, as there will be fewer opportunities.
Families Coming Together
Bringing families together will also change. About 20,000 fewer family members will come in 2025, lowering the number from 118,000 to 98,000.
Some people are not happy about this change. They believe letting families reunite is very important and part of what makes Canada welcoming.
Refugees and Temporary Visitors
People looking for safety in Canada, known as refugees, will also face reductions. However, these numbers may still go up or down based on new situations.
Temporary visitor numbers will get an official cap for the first time. In 2025, there will be 30,000 fewer visas for these visitors, making it just 300,000 allowed.
The government says these cuts are because of what people want and to deal with money problems in the country.
Politics and Changes
With an election coming in October 2025, the government is reacting to what people are saying, trying to keep them happy.
Because of the election, they are making their plans look less grand than before. Some people, groups, and leaders have worried that Canada was growing too quickly.
By reducing the number of new people, they hope to solve problems with housing, less stress on services, and fewer job issues. But nobody knows yet if these changes will be good or bad for Canada in the long run.