Plot twist: the federal government has decided that it’s finally time to consider housing, health care and infrastructure planning with provinces and municipalities in setting the country’s annual immigration targets.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced the significant shift in Canada’s immigration strategy in response to the recent surge in its population, the largest in nearly 70 years. According to Statistics Canada, the population increased by 2.9% in the year ending on July 1, 2023, with the total population surpassing 40 million people.
Related: Macklem Is Now Realizing That Immigration Adds To Inflation
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It’s unclear whether the original targets, 500,000 permanent residents by 2025 and 465,000 in 2023, were set without these considerations. The surge in population comes as the country grapples with the rising cost of living and the housing crisis.
Related: More Canadians Are Concerned About Immigration As the Cost of Rent Hits New Highs
“We need to better align immigration programs systems and services with Canada’s labor market,” Miller said to reporters. “This is what we’ve heard consistently from stakeholders and all those … that speak to us on a daily basis about their needs.”
As part of the new strategy, the government with be expediting the processing of international student permits for institutions that offer improved housing and support services. This initiative aims to attract and retain talent while better integrating newcomers into Canadian society.
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One Response
Because of a lack of infrastructure everybody will suffer because of it and this is the same for the carbon tax issue…trying to do to much to quickly…