Canada is set to implement measures to curb the influx of temporary foreign workers for the first time, as announced by officials on Thursday. Ottawa aims to reduce the number of temporary residents to five percent of the population over the next three years, down from the current 6.2 percent, which translates to 2.5 million people.
The proposed target will be solidified following consultations with Canada's provinces, some of which have expressed concerns over significant migrant inflows amid housing shortages and increased demands for services. Restrictions on temporary foreign worker permits are scheduled to commence on May 1.
This decision comes on the heels of a recent announcement imposing a cap on new permits for international students and introducing visa requirements for certain Mexican travellers.
"Canada has experienced a significant uptick in the number of temporary residents in recent years, ranging from a surge in international students to more foreign workers filling job vacancies and individuals seeking refuge from conflicts and natural disasters," Immigration Minister Marc Miller said during a press conference.
However, Canada's labor market has become considerably tighter, with population growth, fueled by substantial immigration, outpacing job creation. Government data reveals a 3.6 percent decrease in job vacancies to 678,500 in the last quarter of 2023, marking the sixth consecutive quarterly decline from the record high of 983,600 reached in the second quarter of 2022.
"Changes are necessary to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the system," Miller emphasized.
Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault urged employers to prioritize hiring refugees before resorting to bringing in temporary foreign workers. He indicated that businesses currently permitted to employ temporary foreign workers for up to 30 percent of their workforce will see that proportion reduced to 20 percent, with exceptions for the healthcare and construction sectors.
Canada's immigration department has been instructed by Miller to conduct a review of existing programs facilitating the entry of temporary laborers to better align them with labor needs and eliminate any instances of abuse.
