Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a significant shift in the country’s immigration policies, revealing plans to cut immigration numbers beginning in 2025. This decision is driven by growing public concerns over soaring housing prices and the increasing influx of immigrants.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Trudeau said, “We’re going to have fewer temporary foreign workers in Canada. We’re bringing in stricter rules for companies to prove why they can’t hire Canadian workers first.” This policy aims to tighten the process for immigrants seeking employment and residency in Canada.
The announcement follows a recent move to reduce the number of study permits for international students by 35% this year, with an additional 10% cut planned for 2025. According to official estimates, Canada will issue around 437,000 study permits in 2025, down from 485,000 in 2024.
The total number of new immigrants is expected to drop by roughly 30,000, bringing the projected figure to about 300,000 in 2025, a significant reduction from the 485,000 immigrants welcomed in 2023.
The Trudeau government has faced increasing pressure to address the housing crisis, which has been worsened by rising interest rates and a record spike in population due to immigration. Public sentiment has shifted, with many Canadians expressing concerns that the country is accepting too many immigrants—a topic likely to feature prominently in the run-up to the federal election, scheduled before October 2025.
Under the new immigration strategy, Canada will issue 395,000 new permanent resident visas in 2025, followed by 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.
