Montréal-The Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) met today to discuss Canada's immigration levels planning for 2025-2027.
Canada's immigration ministers discussed the economic and social benefits of immigration, levels of permanent and temporary residents, and related capacity pressures. Ministers emphasized that a well-managed immigration system is critical to Canada's objective of distributing the benefits of immigration across the country and agreed that the ability to welcome and integrate newcomers is linked to having strong public services. Provincial and territorial ministers continued to call on the federal government to reverse the $625M cuts to employment services under the labour market transfer agreements (LMTAs) which will risk services on which workers, newcomers, job seekers and vulnerable Canadians rely. They underlined that strong collaboration and coordination between orders of government are key to leveraging federal, provincial and territorial immigration programs, including the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Federal, provincial and territorial immigration programs continue to address regional labour market needs and help all jurisdictions meet their economic, cultural and societal objectives. Ministers acknowledged Canada's long-standing and proud tradition of welcoming newcomers, including the world's most vulnerable people.
Ministers discussed the importance of balancing temporary and permanent resident arrivals, including the federal government's intention to include temporary residents in the annual levels plan for the first time this coming year and decrease the temporary resident population to 5% of Canada's total population. Ministers shared the unique perspectives and realities facing their jurisdictions.
Temporary residents include temporary foreign workers, international students, those arriving under Canada's responses to international humanitarian crises, and asylum claimants. Ministers explored links between temporary residents and regional immigration priorities, including economic and labour market needs, and enhancing the vitality of Francophone communities outside Quebec. As is the case with permanent residents, ministers underlined that temporary residents play a key role in contributing to prosperity, labour markets and cultural diversity throughout Canada. They remarked that any reduction to overall temporary resident volumes must be managed strategically to take into account labour needs in key industry sectors where foreign workers play a valuable role. They emphasized the importance of taking a data-driven approach and monitoring the impacts of recent federal measures that aim to reduce temporary resident volumes.
Ministers discussed federal measures recently introduced, including changes to the International Student Program (ISP). They noted that the ISP falls under both immigration-which is a shared jurisdiction-and education, which falls exclusively under the responsibility of provinces. Ministers acknowledged changes to the federal government's existing work permit programs. They underlined a need for better alignment with short- and long-term regional labour market needs, including strategic use of temporary foreign workers in certain sectors of the economy. Ministers noted their ongoing commitment to collaborate to strengthen the integrity of Canada's work permit programs. As well, they underscored the importance of safeguards so that Canadians and permanent residents have the first opportunity to fill jobs.
