Trudeau’s Immigration Changes: What’s Ahead for Canadian PR Applicants?

The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is reassessing its immigration policies in response to changing public sentiment. Previously advocating for high levels of immigration, Trudeau now acknowledges concerns about the rapid increase in temporary immigrants, including international students and foreign workers, which has outpaced Canada's capacity to integrate them effectively.

During a recent announcement in Nova Scotia, Trudeau admitted that the proportion of temporary immigrants in Canada's population has surged from 2% in 2017 to 7.5% presently, representing approximately 3 million individuals, with international students comprising the majority. In an effort to address this issue, Trudeau expressed the government's intention to reduce the proportion of temporary immigrants to 5% of the population, equivalent to about 2 million people. This shift in policy marks a departure from the previous open-door approach championed by the Liberal government, which ignored warnings about the potential impacts on housing affordability and public services. 

As a result, the government now aims to strike a balance by prioritizing permanent residency for those already in Canada while imposing stricter criteria for newcomers abroad seeking to migrate to the country.