Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged that the federal government could have responded faster to issues within Canada’s immigration programs. Speaking in a seven-minute YouTube video released on Sunday, Trudeau addressed the decision to lower permanent residency admissions and revise the temporary foreign worker program.
The government plans to reduce the permanent residency stream by 20%, capping it at 365,000 by 2027. Trudeau explained that increasing immigration after pandemic lockdowns helped avert a major recession by bolstering the labor market. However, he noted that “bad actors” exploited these programs, leading to the need for reforms.
“Some saw that as a profit, to game the system. We saw way too many large corporations do this,” Trudeau said, adding that colleges and universities also used international student programs primarily to boost their revenues due to higher tuition fees for foreign students. Scammers, he pointed out, also targeted vulnerable immigrants with false promises of citizenship.
Reflecting on the government’s actions, Trudeau admitted, “Looking back, when the post-pandemic boom cooled and businesses no longer needed the additional labor help, as a federal team we could have acted quicker and turned off the taps faster.”
New Immigration Plan Targets Stability
The updated immigration plan aims to stabilize population growth and address housing shortages before potentially raising immigration levels again. Recent measures include making it more difficult for employers to secure temporary foreign worker permits.
Trudeau emphasized that the reductions are temporary and designed to ensure Canada’s housing stock can meet population needs.
Opposition Criticism
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Trudeau’s new policies, accusing him of reversing his earlier stance on immigration. In an interview, Poilievre stated, “Now, he’s basically denouncing his entire immigration policy and expecting us to believe that he can fix the problems that he caused.” He has proposed tying immigration rates to housing availability and other critical factors like healthcare and employment opportunities.
Policy Communication and Future Considerations
Trudeau’s video, filmed before the U.S. election, also aimed to address concerns about potential irregular migration due to president-elect Donald Trump’s deportation policies. Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office clarified that the video serves as an additional way to explain policy changes directly to Canadians.
The government’s strategy reflects efforts to balance immigration needs while addressing systemic challenges, with the goal of maintaining public trust and ensuring sustainable growth.
