Key Takeaways
• Carney’s government sets new caps: below 1% of population for permanent residents; under 5% for temporary residents by end of 2027.
• Current temporary residents make up 7.25% of Canada’s population; plan aims to reduce this sharply over three years.
• Experts warn undercounting temporary residents could undermine immigration targets and complicate service planning across Canada.
Mark Carney’s government is making big moves in Canadian immigration policy that could shape the lives of many people, from new arrivals to long-time residents. Since becoming Prime Minister of Canada 🇨🇦, Mark Carney has placed a strong focus on adjusting how many people come and stay in the country. These changes touch both permanent residents and those who are in Canada temporarily, like international students and foreign workers. Experts are now weighing in, especially as worries grow about whether official numbers really show how many temporary immigrants are living in Canada 🇨🇦. This article will break down what is happening, what numbers you should know, and why these changes carry weight for many groups.
The Shift Under Prime Minister Carney
Mark Carney came into office after the Liberal Party won Canada’s 2025 federal elections. Right away, he said the country had to set stricter controls on how many people move to Canada 🇨🇦. He argued that previous governments let too many people enter, putting pressure on things like housing, healthcare, and jobs. As he put it, “We had much higher levels of foreign workers, students, and new Canadians coming in than we could absorb — than we had housing for, healthcare for, social services for, and than we have opportunities for.”
For Carney, the solution is all about careful planning—especially capping the number of new permanent residents and putting a firm limit on the number of people allowed in as temporary residents. These moves are set to touch the lives of thousands of families, businesses, and students.
Permanent Residents: New Caps on Entry
One of the main parts of Carney’s plan is to steady the flow of new permanent residents. Permanent residents are people who have been given the right to live in Canada 🇨🇦 for as long as they want and often go on to become Canadian citizens. Historically, Canada 🇨🇦 has been seen as open to immigrants, often setting yearly targets for how many should be welcomed. In fact, the existing Immigration Levels Plan already aimed for 395,000 new permanent resident entries in 2025, dropping to 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027.
Now, Carney wants to do even more to keep things from getting out of hand. His goal is to make sure each year, new permanent resident admissions stay under 1% of Canada’s total population in the years after 2027. With Canada’s current population around 41.5 million, this means keeping yearly admissions below 415,000. Since the targets through 2027 fall under this threshold, Carney’s approach matches recent trends but locks in stricter limits for the future.
For people hoping for a future in Canada 🇨🇦, this could mean more competition and perhaps longer waits. At the same time, supporters of these changes say a steady flow makes it easier for newcomers to get the support they need to settle and succeed.
Temporary Residents: A Tougher Stance
In addition to setting new caps for permanent residents, Carney’s biggest change may be in limiting the amount of temporary residents. That includes international students, foreign workers, and others with short-term visas. According to the latest numbers, about 7.25% of all people in Canada 🇨🇦 are currently temporary residents—much higher than at any other time in history.
Under Carney’s plan, the Liberal government will lower this figure to under 5% of the country’s population by the end of 2027. Doing so would bring the number of temporary residents down by hundreds of thousands. This is a major cut set to touch families, schools, businesses, and local communities.
The government hopes this will reduce pressure on rental housing, healthcare, and schools. Many students and businesses, however, are worried these cuts could leave them with fewer options and less talent.
Why Numbers Matter: The Challenge of Undercounting
Carney’s plan to limit temporary immigrants depends on having accurate numbers. Yet, some economists warn that Canada 🇨🇦, like other countries, may be undercounting just how many temporary migrants are living within its borders. This matters a lot when you set quotas and try to meet targets.
For example, looking back at a similar issue in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that it had undercounted net immigration by roughly 380,000 between 2011 and 2020. New data collection tools later revealed that total non-UK immigration was nearly 1.4 million higher than first reported in those years. These sorts of errors can throw off government planning and decision making in a big way.
Canada 🇨🇦 does not have public proof of the same scale of undercounting yet, but economists’ warnings signal that this is a real possibility. If the number of temporary residents in reality is higher than what’s reported, it could make it nearly impossible for Carney’s government to lower the percentage to under 5% by the 2027 deadline.
What’s Driving the Change? Carney’s Rationale
So, why is Carney pushing these changes now? He says rapid population growth has started to clash with what Canada 🇨🇦 can handle, especially when it comes to homes, hospitals, and social programs. By slowing down the number of new arrivals, Carney argues the system can “catch up.” He wants the country to first build more housing and increase support services, so when new immigrants and residents arrive, they have what they need to thrive.
In Carney’s words, these new immigration caps will “remain in place until we’ve expanded housing, and we’ve reabsorbed the levels of immigration that have happened in our country (during the pandemic).” This signals a direct link between the pace of immigration and how quickly the country can improve support systems.
Delays and Pushback
Not everyone agrees these targets are realistic or wise. In particular, the Bank of Canada 🇨🇦 has shown doubt that the government can actually reach the 5% limit on temporary residents as soon as 2026. The Bank’s view is that the process will take more time and effort. In response, Mark Carney has already agreed to give his government more time, moving the deadline back by a year to the end of 2027.
These debates show how tough it can be to balance immigration goals with what is possible in the real world. Some groups have warned that cuts may lead to worker shortages and slow down universities, which often depend on international students’ fees and talent.
Historical Context and Comparison
Immigration has always played a key role in Canada’s story. For decades, the country welcomed high numbers of newcomers compared to its population. This helped Canada 🇨🇦 build its workforce, bring in new ideas, and create a multi-cultural society.
But during the COVID-19 pandemic, the country saw a fast jump in both permanent residents and temporary arrivals. Many people believed this was needed since Canada faced worker shortages and sought to help people who were stuck by travel bans. However, as more people came in, finding homes and healthcare became harder. This is what led to a call for a “pause” or reset—something Carney has now put front and center.
When you look at the United Kingdom 🇬🇧’s experience, you see similar patterns. The UK also tried to bring numbers under control, and later found it had missed the mark due to undercounting. This is a warning sign that Canada’s own efforts may run into similar problems if data is not carefully tracked.
Who Will Feel These Changes?
Permanent residents hoping to reunite with family, temporary foreign workers wanting to fill job gaps, and international students dreaming of studying in Canada 🇨🇦 will all notice the effects. Here are some likely impacts:
- Immigrants and their families: May have to wait longer for approvals or face more competition due to lower annual targets for permanent residents.
- Employers and businesses: Might find it harder to bring in staff, especially for jobs that rely on temporary workers.
- Colleges and universities: Could lose out if fewer international students are allowed in, affecting their budgets and programs.
- Housing markets and healthcare: Might see less pressure if new arrivals come at a slower rate, which is what the government wants.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that getting these caps just right will require honest tracking of how many people are actually in Canada 🇨🇦 at any time. Otherwise, the country could find itself unable to reach its targets, or risk cutting off support to sectors that need new talent to grow.
Different Views and Ongoing Debate
Many people support Carney’s focus on matching immigration with the country’s ability to provide services. They believe that slower, steady growth will help Canada 🇨🇦 avoid resource shortages and social stress.
However, others worry Canada 🇨🇦 could lose out in a global race for talent if strict caps are set for both permanent residents and temporary residents. Some experts argue that international students and foreign workers bring valuable skills, boost the economy, and help solve population problems linked to aging locals.
And then there’s the issue of undercounting. Critics believe that unless Canada 🇨🇦 gets a handle on true numbers, even the best-intentioned reforms could miss the mark, repeating mistakes seen in places like the United Kingdom 🇬🇧.
What Comes Next?
As Carney’s new immigration agenda moves forward, the country will need to:
- Gather accurate data on both permanent and temporary residents to avoid policy missteps.
- Work with provinces and cities to make sure housing and services are built up before more people arrive.
- Balance the needs of employers, students, immigrants, and current residents.
- Check in often to see if the policies are working as planned or need a change.
If you want to see more about how Canadian immigration rules are made, or look up the latest Immigration Levels Plan, the official Government of Canada immigration page offers detailed and up-to-date resources.
Final Thoughts
Mark Carney’s new limits on Canadian immigration mark a turning point in how the country manages both permanent residents and temporary arrivals. The targets are meant to slow down growth so Canada 🇨🇦 can catch up on homes and services. But there are lots of questions about whether Canada 🇨🇦 is really counting everyone, and what limits will mean for families, employers, and schools.
The coming years will show if the country can find the right balance—a Canada 🇨🇦 that keeps opening doors while making sure everyone who arrives has a fair chance to succeed.
Learn Today
Permanent Resident → A person granted the right to live in Canada indefinitely, often as a step toward citizenship.
Temporary Resident → Someone permitted to stay in Canada temporarily, such as international students or foreign workers.
Immigration Levels Plan → The Canadian government’s annual targets and guidelines for how many immigrants Canada will admit.
Undercounting → Failing to accurately count a population group, leading to errors in official statistics and planning.
Net Immigration → The difference between the number of people entering and leaving a country, crucial for demographic planning.
This Article in a Nutshell
Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is reshaping immigration by capping permanent and temporary residents. Permanent residency admissions must stay below 1% of the population, and temporary residents under 5% by 2027. Experts warn inaccurate counts could risk these goals, impacting students, businesses, and Canadian society’s fabric.
— By VisaVerge.com
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