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.
Government of Canada – Strengthening temporary residence programs for sustainable volumes
Canada has a long and proud history of welcoming newcomers from around the world who support our economy and enrich our country. In response to labour shortages and the aftershocks of the pandemic, the federal government took steps to meet the urgent needs of businesses and support our economic recovery. Since then, Canada’s economy has evolved, and we must continue to adapt our immigration system to respond to new pressures, including a softening labour market. To ensure the temporary residents we welcome to Canada can be supported adequately, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced additional measures to manage the volume of temporary resident arrivals, uphold the integrity of our immigration system and protect vulnerable people.
Government of Canada – Actions taken to strengthen Canada’s temporary residence programs and migration pathways
Immigration must be responsive to our country’s needs. Setting goals and targets for immigration is a critical part of how we support a well-managed, sustainable immigration system built on community capacity, humanitarian responsibilities and economic objectives, while prioritizing the health, safety and security of Canadians. In March 2024, Canada announced a plan to decrease the number of temporary residents from 6.5% of the total population to 5% over the next three years, including temporary foreign workers and international students. Achieving this target requires a whole-of-government approach, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and our security partners working closely together across a wide range of programs.
Government of Canada – Minister Boissonnault provides next steps on recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program is designed as an extraordinary measure to be used only when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are not able to fill job vacancies. Given current labour market conditions, and to further reduce the reliance of Canadian employers on the Program, Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, announced changes to the TFW Program on August 26. Minister Boissonnault is announcing next steps and further details of the following changes that will become effective on September 26, 2024.
Toronto Star – Canada imposes further cap on international students and more limits on work permit eligibility
Canada will reduce the annual cap on study permits by another 10 per cent in 2025 and restrict eligibility for international graduates’ work permits to better meet labour market needs, amid continuing public pressure to tame runaway population growth. Two days after losing a seat in a by election in Quebec, the Liberal government said it will cut the study permit application intake from 485,000 in 2024 to 437,000 next year, and keep it at that level for 2026. Changes will also be coming this fall to the post-graduation work permit program to align immigration goals and labour market needs.
Financial Post – Student Visas to Drop 10% in 2025 as Canada Curbs Migration
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is taking more steps to reduce immigration in a country that has buckled under the strain of explosive population growth. Canada will bring in even fewer foreign students next year after already reducing 2024 visa issuance, and further cut back on the number of foreign workers and master’s degree students whose spouses are able to apply for a work permit, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Wednesday in Ottawa.
Global News – Ottawa will cut back again on international students with 2025 cap
The federal government is again cutting how many international student permits Canada will issue, this time for 2025 and laying out the plan for 2026, Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Labour Minister Randy Boissonnault announced Wednesday. The new levels have been introduced as part of the federal government’s national cap on the intake of international students, which was announced in January. The aim of the federal cap is to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada from 6.5 per cent of the total population to five per cent.
