SA Migration International

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Canada to Limit Number of Temporary Residents

Source: Visa Guide, 01/07/2024

Key Takeaways
• Canada is planning to limit the number of temporary residents to five percent of the population, compared to the current 6.2 percent.
• Authorities claim this move aims to guarantee a “sustainable” increase in the number of temporary residents coming into the country.
• Foreign workers in construction and healthcare will be exempted from the new rule the rule, due to the country’s labor shortage in these sectors.
Canada intends to impose caps on the number of temporary residents it accepts, as announced by Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
In accordance with the new decision, the number will decrease over the next three years, with the first cap being set in September, VisaGuide.World reports.
Such a policy will be applied to foreign students, foreign workers, and asylum seekers, as reported by BBC.
More specifically, Canadian authorities aim to lessen the number of temporary residents to five percent of the population, compared to the current 6.2 percent.
According to Minister Miller, this policy aims to guarantee a “sustainable” increase in the number of temporary residents coming into the country.
At present, the number of temporary residents in Canada accounts for 2.5 million, up from almost one million in 2021, according to the Statistics Canada agency.
Foreign Workers in Construction & Healthcare Exempt from New Policy
While Canada plans to reduce the number of temporary residents, Miller admits that the country needs temporary international workers to address labor shortages. However, according to him, changes are necessary to make the system more efficient.
Miller also noted that Canada has international obligations to accept individuals fleeing war and political prosecution.
However, this rule will not be applied to foreign workers in construction and healthcare due to the country’s labor shortage in these sectors. These categories will be permitted to enter Canada at existing levels until at least 31 August.
On the other hand, certain Canadian businesses will need to decrease their reliance on temporary foreign workers by May 1st. In addition, they will have a shorter timeframe to demonstrate that these positions could not be filled by a permanent resident or Canadian citizen.
Advocates for Temporary Foreign Workers Criticize the New Policy
Regarding this announcement, a migrant rights organization told the Global News that new measures would have minimal impact on preventing the exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce considers that the policy will negatively impact the country’s labor shortage issues in some sectors.
Currently Canada Has 2.5 Million Temporary Residents
Miller further said that Canada has 2.5 million temporary residents, up from almost one million in 2021, referring to Statistics Canada.
Meanwhile, in 2021, 54 percent of temporary residents in Canada had a work permit, according to the same source. Foreign students accounted for 22 percent of temporary residents and asylum seekers for 15 percent. The remaining had a combination of permits or were relatives of temporary residents.
Last month, Canada announced the reinstatement of visa requirements for Mexican citizens due to the increasing number of asylum seekers. Data revealed by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada showed that in 2023, more than 25,000 Mexican nationals sought asylum in Canada.
Meanwhile, in January, Canada reduced the number of international student permits by 35 percent. As stated by authorities, such a move followed concerns about the surge in number of foreign students.

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