World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. The weekly roundup includes research, stories, and events of interest to the Canadian immigration and settlement community. This content has been created by WES and is reproduced here with their permission, in partnership.
What the Liberals have in store for Canada’s immigration policy (CIC News)
The Liberal Party of Canada has won the 2025 federal election and will form a minority government. The new government under Prime Minister Mark Carney, plans to recalibrate Canada's immigration policy to address infrastructure pressures while maintaining economic growth. Permanent resident admissions are set to decrease from 395,000 in 2025 to 365,000 by 2027, stabilizing at under one percent of the national population. Temporary residents, currently comprising 7.25 percent of the population, will be reduced to below five percent by 2027 through stricter study permit caps and limited eligibility for post-graduation and spousal work permits. To support labour market needs, the Liberals aim to revamp the Global Skills Strategy, facilitating faster hiring of international talent, particularly from the U.S., and will collaborate with provinces to expedite foreign credential recognition. Additionally, the party seeks to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec to 12 percent by 2029, towards enhancing demographic representation.
To Read Further:
Skilled migrants are leaving the U.S. for Canada — how can the north gain from the brain drain? (The Conversation)
Canada is increasingly attracting skilled migrants from the United States, particularly in technology and innovation sectors, due to its more predictable immigration policies and expanding tech hubs in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. This shift is largely attributed to restrictive U.S. immigration policies, such as H-1B temporary work permit caps and processing delays, prompting professionals to seek opportunities in Canada. Canada's initiatives, including the Global Skills Strategy and Start-Up Visa program, offer streamlined pathways for foreign talent, enhancing its appeal. The influx of skilled workers bolsters Canada's labour market, addressing shortages in critical sectors and contributing to economic growth. However, challenges remain in retaining these professionals, as factors like high living costs and housing affordability can impact long-term settlement. To maximize the benefits of this "brain gain," Canada must focus on retention strategies that address these challenges, ensuring that skilled migrants can fully integrate and contribute equitably to Canada’s economic growth.
Canada ended this temporary foreign worker program. It may affect how food gets to your table (Toronto Star)
The federal government is not renewing or replacing the Agri-Food Pilot. The Pilot, launched in 2020, was meant to offer a pathway to permanent residency for full time, year-round temporary foreign workers in sectors including meat processing, mushroom, greenhouse production, and livestock raising industries, to address labour market concerns. Since it’s launch, the program has welcomed over 5,000 workers. Many industry leaders are citing the program has benefited workers themselves, employers, and local economies, and the cancellation of the pilot has sparked concerns over the future resilience of Canada’s agricultural industry. According to experts, the discontinuation of the pilot may leave employers with deepening labour shortages and workers at risk of having limited access to equitable residency pathways. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada is pledging to continue to monitor and assess the success of the pilot towards considering future opportunities for expansion.
Migration Governance in Unsettled Times: How Policymakers Can Plan for Population Change (MPI)
Population aging and declining birth rates across high-income countries, including Canada, are reshaping labour markets globally. With the working-age population shrinking and the demand for skilled workers rising, immigration is increasingly central to maintaining economic stability and public service delivery amid labour shortages and demographic shifts in advanced economies. As populations age and birth rates decline, countries like Canada are increasingly reliant on immigration to sustain economic growth and support public services. The report highlights that effective migration governance must balance the need for skilled labour with the integration and support of newcomers. Key strategies for policymakers include developing transparent policy planning, streamlining credential recognition processes, investing in settlement services, ensuring equitable access to employment opportunities, and building crises response mechanisms.
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