Immigration Minister Marc Miller reaffirmed that Canada remains “an open country” following the Liberal government’s announcement to reduce the number of newcomers. On Thursday, Immigration Minister Mark Miller and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed plans to cut the projected intake of new permanent residents from 500,000 to 395,000 in 2025, with further reductions to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027. In an interview, Miller emphasized that people “still see a lot of hope in coming to Canada” but “not everyone can come here or can have the privilege of becoming a permanent resident and then a Canadian.”
“Canada is an open country,” Miller stated during his conversation. He acknowledged the necessity of a managed migration system that serves both newcomers and the broader population. The revised immigration levels plan, which replaces the earlier target of about 500,000 newcomers in 2025 and 2026, is projected to lead to a 0.2% population decline over the next two years. It is also expected to help close the housing supply gap by approximately 670,000 units in the coming years.
The immigration announcement caught the attention of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who emphasized the Canadian government’s approach in a social media post. He claimed that “even Justin Trudeau wants to close Canada’s borders” and criticized U.S. ‘open border’ immigration policies. When asked about Trump’s post, Miller stated that “obviously, you never want to see these decisions weaponized because I believe this is the correct decision.” And I will leave presidential politics to the American people to decide.”
Miller highlighted that the reductions were informed by discussions with economists and Canadians expressing the need for a balanced immigration approach that considers the pressures on affordability. Recent polls indicate a shift in Canadian sentiment toward immigration, with an Abacus survey showing that more than half of respondents viewed the system negatively. Miller stressed the importance of maintaining a public consensus on immigration to benefit both Canadians and newcomers.
“I think we may have become complacent in demonstrating the advantages of immigration,” Miller remarked. He acknowledged that while there is a general consensus, it is not unanimous, and fostering understanding is crucial.
Alicia Backman-Beharry, an immigration lawyer from Alberta, described the cuts as a significant shift from the Liberal government’s previous stance, suggesting that the new direction resembles policies typically associated with the Conservative party. She noted that family sponsorship numbers are also set to decline, with projections for spousal and child admissions dropping from 84,000 to 70,000 for 2025. She observed that this indicates a prioritization of Canadians in terms of employment, housing, and social services, potentially disadvantaging immigrants who cannot meet the new competitive standards.
Miller acknowledged the tough decisions involved in shaping the new immigration levels, emphasizing that the government must balance the needs of Canadians with those of newcomers to achieve the right approach.
