Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has highlighted that the growth of temporary foreign workers and international students in Canada surpasses its capacity to accommodate them.
During an event, he pointed out that temporary immigrants represented two percent of Canada’s population in 2017, but this figure has now escalated to 7.5 percent.
Trudeau emphasized the need for regulation, suggesting upcoming adjustments to the immigration policy.
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He acknowledged that while he seldom criticizes immigration, the current influx is contributing to mental health issues among international students and dependency on temporary foreign workers by businesses, which in turn affects wages in some sectors.
Trudeau advocated for reducing these numbers, aiming for a balanced immigration approach that focuses on permanent residents while managing temporary immigration more strictly, citing the strain it places on community resources. This statement was made in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Canada has cut international student admissions by 35 percent from 2023’s figures.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller also announced plans last month to limit the number of temporary residents, including setting targets for the first time, amidst challenges like the housing crisis and inflation.
With approximately 2.5 million temporary residents, making up about 6.2 percent of the total population, the goal is to decrease this to around five percent within three years.
A cap will be introduced in September to guide the country’s sustainable growth of temporary resident numbers.
