The Media Roundup provides links to recent and archived articles, in both English and French, on immigration and diversity appearing in the national and local news. Some international content is also included. Articles are updated weekly.
Reuters — Canada reduces international student permits for second year
Canada will cap the number of international students allowed to enter the country for a second year in a row in 2025, as the government continues to try to ease pressure on housing, healthcare and other services. Canada will issue 437,000 study permits this year, a 10% reduction from 2024, according to a Friday statement from the immigration ministry. The country introduced a cap on new international student permits in 2024 after population growth in recent years was seen as aggravating a housing shortage. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has announced he will resign in March, had pledged to reduce immigration levels in recent months as polls showed less support for newcomers in Canada.
CNN — Advocate groups ordered to stop aiding refugees who have already arrived in US
he Trump administration on Friday abruptly halted services for refugees in the United States, including Afghans, according to a memo obtained by CNN, stunning agencies that provide critical support to recent arrivals. It’s a sweeping move that prompted a scramble as refugee advocates tried to interpret the order. The memo stands to affect tens of thousands of refugees – including Afghans who aided the US during the war – by seemingly barring them from assistance, ranging from caseworker support to housing, that is afforded to arrivals in their first three months in the United States.
The Globe and Mail — Immigration Minister offers provinces incentive to accept more asylum seekers
Immigration Minister Marc Miller is offering an incentive to provinces and territories to accept asylum seekers, saying he may allow them to select more economic migrants if they agree to help shoulder the burden. As part of a wider drive to decrease the number of immigrants Canada accepts, this week Ottawa informed most provinces and territories that they must cut in half the number of people they bring in under provincial nominee programs this year.
CBC News — Miller fires back at provinces, territories for complaints over cuts to economic immigration
Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller is blaming provinces and territories for federal cuts to the economic migrant streams they rely on, stating they have been unco-operative about increasing their share of asylum seekers. Provincial nominee programs (PNPs) target workers who have the skills to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory and want to become permanent residents in Canada. Each province and territory has its own streams and requirements. With the exception of Quebec and Nunavut, all provinces and territories take part in versions of the program.
Gouvernement du Canada — Attributions provinciales et territoriales de 2025 dans le cadre du plafond d’étudiants étrangers
Au cours de la dernière année, Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada (IRCC) a apporté d’importants changements afin de mieux préparer les étudiants étrangers à la vie au Canada, de renforcer nos programmes et de répondre aux besoins changeants de notre pays. En 2024, IRCC a plafonné le nombre de demandes de permis d’études pouvant être acceptées pour traitement afin de maintenir la solidité de notre programme et d’alléger la pression sur le logement, les soins de santé et d’autres services. Pour 2025, IRCC prévoit de délivrer un total de 437 000 permis d’études, ce qui représente une diminution de 10 % par rapport au plafond fixé pour 2024.
CBC News — Provinces warn Ottawa slashing immigration program in half will hurt economy
The federal government has told most provinces and territories they must cut their allotted spaces for economic immigration programs by half this year, triggering concerns about drastic impacts on labour and the economy. The provincial nominee programs (PNPs) are used by all provinces and territories except Quebec and Nunavut. All 11 jurisdictions with PNP slots have been told they will receive a 50 per cent reduction for 2025.
