Canada is thinking about putting limits on the number of temporary foreign workers entering the country in 2024. The Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, mentioned that the current system has been a bit out of control for a long time.
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Link Between Housing Crisis and Foreign Workers
According to Immigration Minister Marc Miller, the housing crisis in Canada is connected to the increasing number of foreign students and temporary foreign workers coming in. He said that in recent years, the number of people coming to Canada temporarily has gone way up.
This comes in the wake of Statistics Canada’s report, revealing a historic population growth in the third quarter of 2023. The latest StatsCan report discloses that Canada’s population has exceeded 40.5 million, with immigration contributing over 313,000 to the third-quarter growth.
Most of the temporary residents who came to Canada were here to work or study. Miller believes that housing issues and the rise in temporary residents are linked.
| Geography | Population as per data released by Statistics Canada on December 19, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Canada | 40,528,396 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 540,418 |
| Prince Edward Island | 175,853 |
| Nova Scotia | 1,066,416 |
| New Brunswick | 842,725 |
| Quebec | 8,948,540 |
| Ontario | 15,801,768 |
| Manitoba | 1,465,440 |
| Saskatchewan | 1,218,976 |
| Alberta | 4,756,408 |
| British Columbia | 5,581,127 |
| Yukon | 45,148 |
Reforms Planned for 2024
In 2024, Miller plans to make changes to address this situation. He wants to deal with the consequences of a system that has been somewhat chaotic for too long and is having a noticeable impact.
Miller emphasized that he is not targeting specific people but wants to address the problems caused by the system. He acknowledges that the availability of housing affects the number of temporary foreign residents, signaling a change in focus for the government.
Changes in Foreign Student Program
Temporary foreign workers or residents come to Canada for various reasons, like agricultural work or studying with postgraduate work permits.
Earlier this month, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced changes to the foreign student program, including requiring applicants to show they can cover living expenses with twice as much money.
If provinces, like Ontario, don’t take action against colleges producing too many foreign graduates, Miller might consider revoking study permits. He also wants provinces to stop licensing low-quality colleges providing a bad experience to international students.
IRCC Minister Marc Miller mentioned that if provinces can’t get things in order, the federal government might reduce the number of international students in the coming year. He hinted at changes to the temporary foreign worker program and postgraduate work permit system.
Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program
He acknowledged the significant increase in both programs in recent years, even after accounting for the COVID period, and emphasized the need to control it due to unexpected consequences.
The government is ready to act, but Miller stressed the importance of serious talks with impacted jurisdictions to ensure everyone is doing their part.
