Canada’s Minister in charge of letting people move into the country, Marc Miller, explains why the government wants to invite fewer people to live here every year. This will start happening in 2025 and means fewer people coming to live here temporarily or permanently.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister Miller announced this change. Before, they wanted more people to come after the pandemic to help fill jobs and boost the economy.
Some people disagree with the new plan, like those who support immigrants and business people. They believe having fewer immigrants might hurt people who need help and make it harder to find workers.
Minister Miller talked to CBC to explain why they decided this and to answer the worries from people who disagree.
Why does the government want fewer immigrants?
Minister Miller said the main reason is to make it easier to find homes for everyone and to have enough help, like doctors and teachers. He shared that many Canadians feel this is a good idea. He said it’s important to manage how many people come here so everyone can have what they need.
Miller said it’s not good to have open borders where anyone can come anytime. It’s about planning carefully. “This isn’t about getting more votes; it’s about being responsible,” he said. They want to make sure they balance what the workers need with what the community can handle.
Not everyone agrees with the government
People who support immigrants feel the new plan is not fair to people who need help the most. Hussain, a person from the Migrant Rights Network, thinks the government wants more attention by making this decision. He said it’s not right to keep one million people out just to look good.
INC says this decision might make more people in Canada not like immigrants. Some activists feel that the government blames immigrants for problems like finding homes and job issues.
Miller disagreed with these thoughts, saying, “Racism is not why we made this decision. We want to keep everyone liking the immigration plan we have and make migration sustainable.”
The meaning for the economy if fewer people come
Some money experts are also worried. They think having fewer immigrants could slow the economy. Rebecca Young from Scotiabank believes the country had too many immigrants last year, which made the economy too busy, but fewer could make it slow.
Minister Miller knows these worries. He said immigration is not just about numbers; it’s also about family, helping people, and keeping different cultures alive in Canada.
He also said that as many people get older and stop working, Canada needs younger people to take over jobs and help run important services.
Business people are worried about finding workers
Business leaders are also worried. They think fewer immigrants will make it hard to find workers, especially those from other countries who come to work for a short time. They wonder where they will find people to work if fewer people come.
Minister Miller said they have listened to these concerns. He said the government talks with economists, business groups, and organizations that support immigrants. They want to make sure there are enough people, but not too many, so the system works well and fair for everyone.
What happens next?
Miller said they made this choice after hearing from lots of people over the past year. Many worried about how quickly new people make houses harder to find. It’s important to talk with people who have different thoughts, even if they’re against immigration.
“We need to listen to people with various ideas,” Miller said. “We can’t just say they’re wrong, but we also should not let hurtful ideas grow.”
The goal is to have an immigration plan that fits Canada’s needs for work, helping others, and keeping it a great place to live.