Canada has scaled back its immigration targets after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted the Liberal government failed to properly gauge the balance of immigration coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Trudeau had originally allowed 500,000 new permanent residents to enter Canada in each of the next two years, but on Thursday the prime minister changed his target for next year to 395,000 new permanent residents, and then It was announced that the number would increase to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.
“During the turbulent times emerging from the pandemic, there was an imbalance between meeting workforce demands and sustaining population growth,” Trudeau said. “Immigration is essential to Canada’s future, but it must be managed and it must be sustainable.”
Canada’s population increased to 41 million in April. The population in 2019 was 37.5 million.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stands at the podium during a press conference at Parliament House on October 24, 2024 in Ottawa. Canada scaled back immigration targets as Prime Minister Trudeau admitted his government had failed. Press conference held on October 24, 2024, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Canada has scaled back its immigration target after Prime Minister Trudeau admitted the government failed to properly gauge the balance of immigration coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press (via AP)
Prime Minister Trudeau faces criticism over immigration issue
The prime minister faces growing criticism over his immigration policies and the negative impact Canada’s population growth is having on affordable housing.
Opposition Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poièvre said of Trudeau: “Through his own personal incompetence, he has destroyed our immigration system and destroyed 150 years of common sense agreement between the Liberals and Conservatives on this issue. It was destroyed,” he said.
“He can’t fix what he’s broken on immigration, on housing, on other fronts, because he won’t be able to fix what he’s broken on immigration, on housing, on other fronts,” Poiivre said, referring to calls from some Liberal members for Trudeau not to seek re-election. “Because I’m busy fighting,” he added.
What does the Minister of Immigration say?
Canada’s Immigration Minister Mark Miller acknowledged the shift in public opinion on immigration, saying, “This volume of submissions we have is concerning.”
He said the government recognized the pressures facing the public and needed to adapt its policies accordingly.
“We are an open country, but not everyone can come to this country,” the minister said.
Miller also said a reduction in the number of immigrants would help alleviate the nation’s housing shortage.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Trudeau said Canada needs to stabilize population growth so that governments at all levels can make necessary changes to health care, housing and social services to accommodate more people in the future.
Prime Minister Trudeau faces pressure from his own party
Liberal MPs on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Trudeau not to run for the next term.
The three Liberal MPs are among more than 20 members of the party to sign a letter calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to resign before the next election, which could take place anytime between this fall and October 2025. said.
More than 20 MPs is enough to raise alarm, but it ranks low among the 153 Liberal members in Canada’s House of Commons.
Prime Minister Trudeau said Thursday he would lead the party into the next election after meeting for three hours with Liberal MPs on Wednesday.
“The Liberal Party is strong and united,” the prime minister said after Wednesday’s meeting.
Trudeau said Thursday that “robust conversations” are continuing about the best way to move forward, but “that will happen as I lead the next election.”
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
