Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, known for pro-immigration policies has been taking steps apparently to curtail the arrival of foreigners, including students, to the country in the recent times. Adding more more instances, the Prime Minister on Thursday declared that the country is going to have “fewer temporary foreign workers.”
“We’re bringing in stricter rules for companies to prove why they can’t hire Canadian workers first,” Trudeau wrote in an X post.
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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.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 23, 2024
The move comes a month after the country limited the number of study permits for international students. In September, the Prime Minister announced that the country is granting 35% fewer international student permits this year, adding that number’s going down by another 10% next year. “Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down,” he said last month.
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As per the immigration department, Canada approved 5,09,390 students in 2023 and 1,75,920 in the first seven months of 2024 and the new move would reduce the number of international study permits issued to 4,37,000 in 2025. The changes in the rule were also meant to limit work permit eligibility for spouses of some students and temporary foreign workers.
According to a government source, Canada will see 395,000 new permanent residents in 2025, 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027, down from 485,000 this year, reports Routers.
The recent steps follows reports regarding a housing crisis among Canadians, and many had pointed out the rise in the rent due to the demand caused by the excessive arrival of international students. The Prime Minister had faced pressure from the locals due to the rising prices caused by foreign settlement in the country. Moreover, the influx of immigrant has raised the country’s population, further skyrocketing the demand and hence the cost of living.
Given the feelings of many Canadians that the unrestricted immigration is an issue that the country is reportedly reeling under, the government’s latest moves appears to be foreseeing the federal election scheduled for next year. Notably, Canada had earlier welcomed the immigrants to fill its work requirements and enhance economy.
