Canada: PM Carney outlines immigration priorities in new mandate letter

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has issued a new mandate letter to his cabinet, emphasizing two key immigration priorities: reducing overall immigration to sustainable levels and attracting top global talent to support Canada's economy. These objectives are among the top seven priorities for the federal cabinet moving forward, as per a report by CIC News.

The mandate letter reiterates the Liberal government's commitment to stabilizing permanent resident immigration levels, acknowledging that previous increases had placed strain on housing and public services. The government aims to admit 395,000 permanent residents in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027, aligning with the goal of keeping admissions below 1% of Canada's projected population of 41.5 million in 2025.

In addition to managing immigration levels, the mandate letter highlights the importance of attracting skilled professionals to bolster critical sectors of the economy. Plans include updating the Global Skills Strategy to expedite work permit processing for eligible foreign workers and collaborating with provinces and territories to improve the recognition of foreign credentials and international work experience.

According to the CIC News report, these initiatives build upon previous policy adjustments made under former Immigration Minister Marc Miller, which aimed to address affordability and housing concerns by scaling back both temporary and permanent resident admissions.