The federal government announced that it is cutting immigration numbers – at least in the short term – to ensure what it calls “well-managed” and sustainable growth in the long-term.

The number of immigrants brought into the country will be reduced for the next three years, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to ensure that the appropriate health care and housing is in place.

He admits, Ottawa didn’t “get the balance quite right,” also pointing to those who have been abusing immigration and temporary foreign worker programs.

Ottawa is reducing the number of permanent residents from 500,000 to 395,000 in 2025, an from 500,000 to 380,000 in 2026.

The immigration target for 2027 is set at 365,000. The federal government’s Levels Plan aims to reduce temporary resident volumes to 5 per cent of Canada’s population by the end of 2026 – dropping temporary population numbers by 445,901 in 2025 and 445,662 in 2026.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says the federal government’s aggressive immigration targets were in direct response to labour shortages during the height of the pandemic, but the focus now is on stabilizing the system.

Meanwhile, more skilled temporary residents already in Canada to work or go to school will be moved to permanent status.