Recently, IRCC’s Minister, Marc Miller, has made a notable announcement concerning immigration. As per this, Canada’s Immigration Plan 2024-2026 will include TR targets beginning this autumn. 

Generally, Canada’s immigration Levels plan outlines the new permanent resident targets the country aims to admit each year for the following three years.

Notably, Canada has not previously taken into account the temporary resident levels in the Immigration Levels Plan.

Canada’s Immigration Plan 2024-2026 Will Include TR Targets

Minister Miller further stated that the immigration targets are not intended to represent a cap. However, he stated that in some areas, IRCC may limit applications. 

So far, the department has set no targets or caps for the permits given under various immigration programs, i.e., the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), Intra-company Transfers (ICT), the International Mobility Program(IMP), or trade agreements like the Canada United States Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

IRCC has declared a cap on study permits for international students that it will admit. 

In accordance with the Minister, incorporating temporary residents into the Immigration Levels Plan will enable the country to stabilize its population increase. 

He further added that The country has “become addicted” to temporary immigrant workers.

The temporal resident population has enlarged, reaching around 2.5 million, or 6.2% of Canada’s population in 2023-he claimed

As a result, in the immigration plans, IRCC will add a target for the number of temporary immigrants the country can accommodate. The department is aiming to lower the country’s TR population by 5% within the upcoming three years.

IRCC will hold More Domestic Draws for Permanent Residence

Changes in the selection of new permanent residents are part of the process of stabilizing Canada’s demographic growth. 

The Minister underlined that the department will conduct more domestic draws to transition temporary residents into Permanent residents. Also, it will encourage provinces and territories employing provincial nominee programs to undertake similar actions for their allocations.

He added that this will realign the department’s effort and provide a pathway for individuals already in Canada to stay and contribute to the country’s economy.

This means that the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws and Express Entry draws will probably select or consider candidates who are already temporary residents in Canada.

Moreover, Miller noted that temporary residents benefit Canada’s economy, and the current changes are the result of evaluation of the present immigration programs and procedures in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

According to him, the labor market has become stronger. Also, Canada regained 138% of the jobs during the pandemic.

Overview of Canadian Immigration

This year, Canada has a target of inviting 485,000 individuals for new permanent residency. This target in both 2025 and 2026 will increase to 500,000 PRs. 

According to the IRCC, sustaining this aim will help stabilize the immigration-induced population growth in Canada. Also, it will enable the federal and provincial governments to support the newcomers while fulfilling the needs of Canada’s existing population. 

Minister Miller said, “We want every new family and resident to be set up for success and to be able to access the services they need. Our ultimate goal is to ensure a well-managed, sustainable immigration system based on needs.”

In recent months, the immigration department has also faced criticism concerning the high immigration levels as Canada deals with affordable housing shortages and a stressed healthcare system.