How Canada's immigration system will change under Mark Carney
10 May 2025
After the 2025 federal election, Canada's immigration policy is at another major turning point. With the Liberal Party, led by Mark Carney, forming a minority government, their platform and campaign rhetoric are providing important clues to the future direction of Canada's immigration system. In the election, the Liberals made it clear that the previous Conservative government had over-extended immigration, resulting in housing shortages and strained infrastructure, and that it needed to be adjusted to a more “sustainable level.” At the heart of their strategy is a strategy to keep permanent resident numbers at current levels and gradually stabilize them.
In their election platform, the Liberals stated that they would keep the annual number of permanent residents at or below 1% of Canada's total population after 2027, which is similar to the previous government's immigration level plan of 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. In the end, it's more of a modification of the existing policy direction of rapid expansion rather than a sudden contraction. Alongside this, they also plan to significantly reduce the size of the temporary resident population. The plan to reduce the number of temporary residents from 7.25% of Canada's population in 2025 to 5% or less by 2027 will have a significant impact on international students and foreign workers in particular. The Liberals have already introduced a number of restrictions under the previous government, including PGWP limits, restrictions on spousal open work permit eligibility, and a cap on the number of study permits issued, and these policies are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future.
In addition, the Liberals have announced plans to increase the proportion of French-speaking immigrants from outside Quebec to 12% by 2029, which is higher than the current federal targets of 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027, in order to maintain a more balanced French-speaking population. Even as immigration stabilizes quantitatively, the Liberals are demonstrating their commitment to greater regional balance and linguistic diversity.
In the area of economic immigration, the Liberals are also emphasizing a strategic approach to attracting global talent, including expanding customized talent attraction programs for high-growth companies and entrepreneurs, as well as attracting high-skilled immigrants already living in the United States. Strengthening the Global Skills Strategy program and streamlining the process of recognizing foreign qualifications and experience were also mentioned, as the government aims to address labour shortages in the long term, as well as strengthening the competitiveness of high-tech industries.
The plan also includes expanding legal assistance to refugees and asylum seekers, shortening processing times by utilizing digital administrative systems, strengthening border surveillance to prevent human smuggling and immigration fraud, and enhancing visa screening. In particular, the plan includes a commitment to "expedite the repatriation of inadmissible applicants after due process. This represents a position that seeks to balance humanitarian considerations with maintaining order at the border.
Finally, the Liberals have stated that they will maintain their commitment to run immigration policy jointly with the province of Quebec, confirming that immigration policy in Canada is not just a federal issue, but is also closely linked to the provinces' labor market and social integration strategies.
These seemingly modest adjustments to the Liberal government's 2025 immigration policy could actually mean stricter standards and restrictions for international students and temporary foreign workers, while opening up new opportunities for French-speaking immigrants and high-skilled workers. As Canada's immigration system shifts from being a simple means of population expansion to a policy that takes into account qualitative adjustments, regional balance, and societal capacity, it's a moment to watch closely for individuals, businesses, and policy makers alike.
After the 2025 federal election, Canada's immigration policy is at another major turning point. With the Liberal Party, led by Mark Carney, forming a minority government, their platform and campaign rhetoric are providing important clues to the future direction of Canada's immigration system. In the election, the Liberals made it clear that the previous Conservative government had over-extended immigration, resulting in housing shortages and strained infrastructure, and that it needed to be adjusted to a more “sustainable level.” At the heart of their strategy is a strategy to keep permanent resident numbers at current levels and gradually stabilize them.
In their election platform, the Liberals stated that they would keep the annual number of permanent residents at or below 1% of Canada's total population after 2027, which is similar to the previous government's immigration level plan of 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. In the end, it's more of a modification of the existing policy direction of rapid expansion rather than a sudden contraction. Alongside this, they also plan to significantly reduce the size of the temporary resident population. The plan to reduce the number of temporary residents from 7.25% of Canada's population in 2025 to 5% or less by 2027 will have a significant impact on international students and foreign workers in particular. The Liberals have already introduced a number of restrictions under the previous government, including PGWP limits, restrictions on spousal open work permit eligibility, and a cap on the number of study permits issued, and these policies are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future.
In addition, the Liberals have announced plans to increase the proportion of French-speaking immigrants from outside Quebec to 12% by 2029, which is higher than the current federal targets of 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027, in order to maintain a more balanced French-speaking population. Even as immigration stabilizes quantitatively, the Liberals are demonstrating their commitment to greater regional balance and linguistic diversity.
In the area of economic immigration, the Liberals are also emphasizing a strategic approach to attracting global talent, including expanding customized talent attraction programs for high-growth companies and entrepreneurs, as well as attracting high-skilled immigrants already living in the United States. Strengthening the Global Skills Strategy program and streamlining the process of recognizing foreign qualifications and experience were also mentioned, as the government aims to address labour shortages in the long term, as well as strengthening the competitiveness of high-tech industries.
The plan also includes expanding legal assistance to refugees and asylum seekers, shortening processing times by utilizing digital administrative systems, strengthening border surveillance to prevent human smuggling and immigration fraud, and enhancing visa screening. In particular, the plan includes a commitment to "expedite the repatriation of inadmissible applicants after due process. This represents a position that seeks to balance humanitarian considerations with maintaining order at the border.
Finally, the Liberals have stated that they will maintain their commitment to run immigration policy jointly with the province of Quebec, confirming that immigration policy in Canada is not just a federal issue, but is also closely linked to the provinces' labor market and social integration strategies.
These seemingly modest adjustments to the Liberal government's 2025 immigration policy could actually mean stricter standards and restrictions for international students and temporary foreign workers, while opening up new opportunities for French-speaking immigrants and high-skilled workers. As Canada's immigration system shifts from being a simple means of population expansion to a policy that takes into account qualitative adjustments, regional balance, and societal capacity, it's a moment to watch closely for individuals, businesses, and policy makers alike.