Trudeau Admits Mistakes in Immigration Policy, Announces Shift Toward Slower Population Growth

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged that his government’s approach to immigration in recent years has led to “some mistakes,” contributing to record population growth and new challenges for the country. In a recent statement, Trudeau outlined a plan to pause immigration growth for the next two years, before gradually returning to more sustainable levels starting in 2027.

Trudeau explained that the rapid growth of Canada’s population in the past two years, which resembled a “baby boom,” has led to problems, including exploitation by bad actors within the immigration system. He pointed to unscrupulous colleges and large corporations that took advantage of the system, enrolling international students at inflated tuition rates while offering minimal educational value. Some institutions, he said, exploited the influx of international students, raising their bottom lines while charging foreign students tens of thousands of dollars more than domestic students for the same programs.

Post-pandemic labor demand drove immigration, but Trudeau acknowledged slow adjustments, citing fraud, abuse, and exploitation of vulnerable immigrants.

In response to these issues, the government has now revised its immigration targets. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on October 24 that the number of permanent resident (PR) admissions for 2025 and 2026 will be lower than previously planned.

For 2025, the government will reduce the target from 500,000 to 395,000 PRs, and for 2026, it will set the target at 380,000, down from the original goal of 500,000. The target for 2027 is set at 365,000 PRs. The government plans to reduce temporary residents to 5% of Canada’s population by 2026, alongside population decline and growth.

Immigration issues, public frustration, and growing discontent may prompt an earlier election, as the government adjusts policies.

(By Ankita Singh, Web Team at C6N)