Dear Mr Brown:

Due to the decrease in the number of people granted permanent residency over the next three years, does it still make sense to study in Canada? Will students still be prioritised in the new immigration plans?

– CHD

Dear CHD:

Canada will lower the number of new permanent immigrants by at least 20 per cent from the previous target of 500,000 in the context of housing, infrastructure, social services and higher cost of living concerns. Essentially, the plan will pause population growth in the short term to achieve well-managed, sustainable growth for the long term.

Under the plan, Canada will reduce its annual intake of permanent residents by 21 per cent to 395,000 next year, 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027. However, it should be highlighted that immigration remains essential for Canada’s future, but it must be controlled in a sustainable way as the country still has an ageing population and low birth rate.

The share of skilled and economic permanent residents will be about 60 per cent, followed by those in family reunification (24 per cent) and the rest, about 16 per cent, will be from the humanitarian and refugee stream.

Permanent resident categories include:

•Economic: 60 per cent of total for 2025.

•Family: 23 per cent of total for 2025.

•Refugees and protected persons: 14 per cent of total for 2025,

•Humanitarian & compassionate and other: 3 per cent of total for 2025

Decrease in temporary residents

Canada’s temporary population, including international students and foreign workers, will also be slashed by 445,901 in 2025, 445,662 in 2026 but increased by 17,439 in 2027.

The plan is expected to result in a population decline of 0.2 per cent in each of the next two years before returning to a population growth of 0.8 per cent in 2027, by which time about 670,000 fewer housing units would be required.

It is important to note that temporary residents in Canada will be prioritised by allocating 40 per cent of the permanent spots in 2025 to migrants already studying and working in Canada. There will also be a smaller-scale regularisation plan to grant legal status to undocumented migrants. This will ensure that additional demands on the housing, health-care and social services are not experienced. Over 40 per cent of permanent resident admissions for 2025 are expected to be people who are already in Canada and contributing to our communities.

When temporary residents already in Canada decide to stay permanently, they help to:

• maintain a stable population;

• support our workforce and economy; and

• reduce additional pressure on our infrastructure.

Please visit JAMAICA2CANADA.COM for additional information on Canadian Work Permits, Study Permits, Visas, International Student Loan, Permanent Residence and/or Appeals, etc.

Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is a licensed Canadian employment recruiter, accredited Canadian education agent and immigration counsel of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM—a Canadian immigration firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to documents.jamaica2canada@gmail.com