Canada’s newest immigration minister, MP Marc Miller, has announced that he is set to make ‘significant changes’ to Canada immigration policies this coming fall. The shake-up could impact thousands of potential immigrants, leaving many apprehensive about the new rules. If you think you may be affected by the upcoming changes, or for further help, contact Canada Immigration Lawyer.

Why is the Canadian Government Introducing New Immigration Measures?

Canada has always taken pride in itself as being one of the most welcoming countries in the world. It is known for accepting a high intake of immigrants and, because of this, boasts a healthy economy and strong labour force. However, recent concerns have been raised in regards to the sustainability of Canada’s economy when compared to its high levels of immigration.

According to government officials, the new measures are designed to restore balance to Canada’s economic structure, and stabilise the rapidly expanding population growth rate. A recent Bloomberg report revealed that Canada’s population growth rate in 2023 was 3.2%, which is one of the fastest in the world.

Ministers argue that this is causing a myriad of problems such as serious housing shortages, infrastructure strain, and affordability concerns. Government officials want the new Canada immigration policies to combat these issues head on and in a way that's fair, and considerate of the general population.

The Canadian government also faces public and political pressure to toughen its immigration rules. According to a recent National Post Article, in March of 2023, 50% of Canadian nationals had said that the government was admitting too many immigrants into the country.

By July 2023, that figure had risen to 60% which, according to the pole, is the highest number seen in decades. In addition, the pole claims only 28% of respondents had said the current number of new arrivals was appropriate.

Upcoming Changes in Canadian Immigration Policy Under the New Minister

In a bid to reduce immigrant numbers, Miller announced on March 21st 2024, his intention to target foreign nationals that apply for residency. He stated that he intends to “expand the Immigration Levels Plan to include both temporary resident arrivals and permanent resident arrivals”.

Currently, temporary residents make up approximately 6.2% of the overall Canadian population. Miller suggested the new immigration policy could aim to drop this to 5% over the course of the next 3 years which would mean a decrease of around 19% by 2027.

The news follows the minister’s January announcement. Here, he vowed to immediately reduce and cap the number of international student permits to 360,000 per year, resulting in a 35% decrease from levels in 2023.

Although the specific changes have yet to be announced, there are various elements of the current immigration policies that could be affected by the decision to reform. For example, the potential impacts of immigration reform on skilled worker visas in Canada.

Currently, skilled workers from abroad have been able to apply to live and work in Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW). The TFW is a scheme that was originally designed to help Canadian employers combat labour shortages, by offering their vacancies to foreigners.

Under the program, skilled workers can currently stay in Canada for an unlimited period of time, providing they have an offer of employment. However, in bid to reduce immigration numbers, this is highly likely set to change.

Some Canadian government officials have recently suggested that the TFW has been abused by employers looking to obtain a cheaper workforce, and recommend changes such as a reduction in how and when the TFW can be accessed, and stricter compliance measures.

In addition, the proposed changes have raised many questions about what and who could be targeted.  This includes the potential impact on students and professionals, or how Canada’s new immigration rules could affect family sponsorship.

How to Prepare for Canada’s Immigration Policy Revision 2024

Though this is not the first time a shake up in Canada’s immigration policy has happened, the upcoming changes have left many people anxious and worried about the future. If implemented, the changes could see a dramatic drop in new immigrant arrival numbers in Canada, leaving both current, and hopeful, foreigners in a state of panic or confusion.

Whilst it is not possible to stop the changes from occurring, if you’re a foreigner likely to be affected by them, then perhaps the most sensible and only thing to do is to prepare for what may come next.

For example, it is wise to be confident that all of your legal paperwork is valid and up-to-date, and to make sure that you are currently compliant with all the rules and regulations as set out in your current visa.

In addition, it may be useful to look at the most recent changes to Canada’s immigration policies and how the changes were implemented there. For example, in June 2023, the Canadian government announced a target-based approach for temporary residents in which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited only a subset of skilled workers to apply.

This approach focused on the skill-set of the applicants. Preference was given to those with strong French language skills and those with experience in specific fields (such as healthcare). If a similar approach is taken during this reform, it may be useful to work on your skill-set as much as possible and perhaps gain experience within one of the desired fields.  

Click here for further information on immigration law in Canada, or to track any changes.