The immigration minister Marc Miller emphasized that a primary approach to limit the number of temporary residents is by providing them with the opportunity to attain permanent resident status. However, he underscored that not all individuals desiring to remain in the country will be granted this status.
The objective is to control rapid population growth, which has strained the housing market and other essential services. The minister aims to decrease the proportion of temporary residents to five percent of Canada's population within the next three years, down from 6.2 percent in 2023.
Various ministers cautioned that the new policy could increase demand for their provincial immigration programs as temporary residents seek permanent stay. They proposed expanding these programs as a mutually beneficial solution to retain individuals in Canada permanently.
Miller noted that while existing residents have already influenced affordability, it doesn't guarantee entitlement for everyone to remain in Canada.
Additionally, Ottawa could enhance efforts to target individuals already in Canada for federal permanent residency programs.
Plans for new targets on temporary residents will be formulated over the summer and released in the fall. The government has yet to finalize the visa limits required to reduce the temporary resident population. Measures to cap international student admissions and expedite asylum claim processing have already been announced.
Addressing temporary work permit-holders remains a significant pending issue.
Allocation of a finite number of temporary visas was a focal point of the discussions, as stated in a press release issued by the ministers following their meeting.