The Trudeau administration is reportedly preparing to announce a reduction in the annual cap on permanent residents in Canada by 100,000, following the Prime Minister’s successful navigation of a potential caucus uprising.
Currently, the government intends to permit 500,000 new permanent residents in both 2025 and 2026, marking a 59% increase since Trudeau assumed office in 2016. If the Liberals proceed with the anticipated announcement, as reported by the National Post, the total number of permanent residents allowed into Canada will decrease by 20%.
Liberal insiders have also informed Global News and the CBC that the party is considering a reduction in the annual intake of permanent residents.
Additionally, the Liberals are said to be contemplating modifications to temporary immigration pathways.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has acknowledged that Canada’s immigration system has experienced “some abuses,” particularly concerning international students and temporary foreign workers exploiting lenient regulations.
During the Liberal cabinet retreat in August, Trudeau indicated that the party is “reviewing various streams to ensure Canada continues to be a welcoming environment for immigration.”
At the same retreat, Immigration Minister Marc Miller expressed his willingness to implement changes if necessitated by economic or social factors.
“This approach is both politically astute and sound policy, aligning with the expectations of Canadians.”
The House of Commons has been suspended since early October, following House Speaker Greg Fergus’s determination that the Liberal government “clearly did not fully comply” with an order to provide the RCMP with all documents related to Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), a federally funded entity facing conflicts of interest and authorized to distribute green subsidies.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several Liberal members emerged from a 3.5-hour caucus meeting on Wednesday, reiterating that the party is “strong and united.”
